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LIBRARY 


°'onto,  On^r 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

University  of  Ottawa 


http://www.archive.org/details/metricalromance03webe 


METRICAL  ROMANCES. 


^fletrial  ^Romances 

OF  THE 

THIRTEENTH,  FOURTEENTH,  AND  FIFTEENTH 
CENTURIES : 

PUBLISHED  FROM 

ancient  opmixmiptn. 

WITH  AN 

INTRODUCTION,  NOTES,  AND  A  GLOSSARY. 

BY 

HENRY  WEBER,  ESQ. 

VOLUME  III. 


Of  all  maner  of  minstrales 
And  jestoms  that  tellen  tales 
Both  of  weeping  and  of  game 
And  of  all  that  longeth  unto  fame. 


Chaucer. 


EDINBURGH: 
Printed  by  George  Ramsay  and  Company, 

FOR  ARCHIBALD   CONSTABLE  AND  CO.  EDINBURGH;  AND 

JOHN  MURRAY,  AND  CONSTABLE,  HUNTER,  PARK, 

AND  HUNTER, LONDON. 

1810. 


J 


: 


LIBRARY 

PonWicsl  Insfitut.  of  Medieval  Studi.j 

113  ST.  JOSEPH  STREET 
TORONTO,  ONT.  CANADA    M5S  l.W 


OPT  o  2  WW 


CONTENTS. 


VOL.  ill. 


Page 

The  Proces  of  the  Seuyn  Sages, 1 

Tale  I.  The  Pinnote-Tree  and  its  Ympe,  ...  23 
II.  The  Knight  and  his  Grehonde,  ....  29 

III.  The  Bore  and  the  Herd, 36 

IV.  Ypocras  and  his  Neveu, 41 

V.  The  Father  murdered  by  his  Son,    .  .  49 

VI.  The  Husband  shut  out, 56 

VII.  The  Kinge  and  his  Stiward, 61 

VIII.  The  old  Wise  Man  and  his  Wife, ...  68 

IX.  Cressus,  the  Riche  Man, 77 

X.  The  Magpie, 86 

XI.  Herowdes  and  Merlin, 91 

XII.  The  Scheriffe,   his  Widow,   and  the 

Knight, 100 

XIII.  Of  Maister  Gemes, 107 

XIV.  The  Two  Dreams, 113 

XV.  The  Ravens, 134 

Octouian  Imperator, 155 

Sir  Amadas, , 241 


CONTENTS. 


Page 


The  Huntyng  of  the  Hare,  .  .  ; 277 

Notes  to  Kyng  Alisaunder, 291 

Sir  Cleges, 345 

Lay  le  Freine, 346 

Richard  Coer  de  Lion, 347 

Ipomydon, 361 

Amis  and  Amiloun, 364 

The  Seuyn  Sages, 367 

Octouian, 374 

Sir  Araadas, 376 

Glossary, 377 

Various  Readings, 460 


THE 


PROCES 


OF 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 


▼OL.  Hi. 


THE 


PROCES 


OF 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 


Lordynges,  that  here  likes  to  dwell, 

Leues  yowr  speche  and  heres  this  spell  : 

I  sal  yow  tel,  if  I  haue  tome, 

Of  the  seuen  sages  of  Rome. 

Whilom  lifed  a  nobii  man, 

His  name  was  Dyoclician  ; 

Of  Rome  and  of  al  the  honowre 

Was  he  lord  and  emperowre. 

An  emperes  he  had  to  wyfe, 

The  fayrest  lady  that  bare  life  ;  10 

Of  al  gude  maners  ful  auenaunt, 

And  hir  name  was  dame  Milisant, 


4  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

A  childe  thai  had  bytwix  tham  two, 
The  fayrest  that  on  fote  myght  go, 
A  knaue  child  that  was  tham  dere ; 
Of  him  sone  sal  ye  selkuths  here. 

Sone  efterward  byfel  this  case, 
The  lady  died  and  grauen  was, 
And  went  whare  God  hyr  dight  to  dwell ; 
Tharfore  of  hir  namore  I  tell,  20 

Whether  sho  past  to  pyne  or  play, 
Bot  of  the  son  I  sal  yow  say. 
When  he  was  seuyn  winter  aide, 
Of  speche  and  bourding  was  he  balde. 
Florentine  his  name  cald  was. 
Herkens  now  a  ferly  case  ! 

His  fader  was  emperoure  of  Rome, 
A  nobil  man  and  whise  of  dome, 
And  Florentine,  that  was  so  fayre, 
Was  his  son  and  als  his  ayre.  30 

It  was  nothing  that  he  lufed  mare, 
Tharfore  he  wold  him  set  to  lare  ; 
And  sone  he  gert  byforn  hym  come 
Seuyn  maysters  that  war  in  Rome. 
The  tale  vs  telles,  who  to  it  tentes, 
That  thai  kowth  al  the  seuyn  sienz. 
And  sone,  when  thai  war  efter  sent, 
Hastly  to  the  court  thai  went ; 
Thai  come  by  for  the  emperoure, 
And  hailsed  him  with  grete  honoure.  40 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  5 

He  said,  "  Lordinges,  takes  entent, 
And  sese  whi  I  efter  yow  sent, 
For  ye  er  wisest  men  of  lare, 
That  in  this  werld  yit  euer  ware. 
My  son  I  wil  ye  haue  forthi, 
To  make  him  cunnand  in  clergy  ; 
And  I  wil  that  ye  teche  him  euyn 
The  sutelte  of  sience  seuyn  ; 
And  al  yowr  wisdom  and  yowr  wit, 
Mi  wil  es,  that  ye  teche  him  it.  oO 

Whilk  of  yow  now  will  him  haue, 
And  fullfil  this  that  I  craue  ?" 

Maister  Bancillas  spak  than, 
For  of  that  was  he  oldest  man, 
Lene  he  was,  and  also  lang, 
And  most  gentil  man  tham  omang  ; 
Ful  perfiteli  he  kouth  in  partes, 
And  sadly  of  al  the  seuyn  artes. 
"  Sir,  he  said,  tak  mi  thi  son  ! 
Ful  mekil  thank  I  wil  the  kun  ;  fiO 

And  trewly  I  sal  teche  him  than 
Of  clergy  more  than  ani  man  ; 
That  dar  I  vndertak  ye  here, 
Within  the  terme  of  seuyn  yere." 

When  this  was  said  he  held  his  pese  ; 
And  than  said  maister  Anxilles  ; 
He  was  a  man  meteliest, 
And,  of  eld  als  him  semed  best 


6  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Of  sexty  winter  and  na  mare  ; 

And  als  he  was  ful  wise  of  lare  :  70 

"  Sir,  tak  me  thi  son,  he  said, 

And  you  sal  hald  ye  ful  wele  payd  : 

I  sal  him  lere  ful  right  and  rath, 

That  I  can  and  mi  felous  bath  : 

I  vndertak  he  sal  it  lere 

Within  the  space  of  sex  yere." 

The  thrid  maister  was  litel  man, 
Faire  of  chere  and  white  as  swan  ; 
His  hare  was  white  and  nathing  brown, 
And  he  hight  maister  Lentilioune.  80 

He  spak  vuto  the  emperoure  : 
Tak  me  thi  sun,  sir,  paramowre, 
And  I  sal  teche  him,  ful  trewly, 
Al  maner  of  clergy 
That  ani  man  leres  in  this  liue, 
Within  the  time  of  yeres  fiue." 

The  ferth  maister  a  rede  man  was 
And  his  name  was  Malquidras ; 
Of  fifty  winter  was  he  aide, 

Quaint  of  hande  and  of  speche  balde  ;  90 

Him  thoght  scorn  and  grete  hething, 
That  thai  made  so  grete  josyng. 
"  Syr,  he  sayd,  I  sal  tel  the, 
Mi  felows  wit  fals  noght  to  me  ; 
Ne  of  thaire  wisdom,  o  nane  wise, 
Wil  I  mak  no  marchandise  ; 


THE  SETJYN  SAGES.  7 

Bot,  sir,  this  son  vnto  me  take, 

And  I  sal  teche  him,  for  thi  sake, 

The  sienz  of  astronomy, 

That  falles  to  sternes  of  the  sky,  100 

And  other  sex  syenz  alswa, 

In  foure  yere,  vvithowten  ma." 

The  fift  maister  was  wise  of  dome, 
And  he  was  cald  Caton  of  Rome  ; 
He  made  the  boke  of  Catoun  clere, 
That  es  biginyng  of  gramere. 
He  karped  loud  unto  the  kyng  : 
"  Sir,  tak  this  son  to  mi  techeing, 
I  wald  noght  he  decayued  ware, 
Bot  I  ne  knaw  noght  mi  felous  lare ;  HO 

Bot  for  to  lere  him  I  warand, 
A  Is  mekil  als  he  mai  vnderstand, 
And  als  his  wittes  wele  bere  may, 
Forthermare  dar  I  noght  say, 
So  that  in  time  of  seuen  yere 
He  sal  be  wise  withowten  were." 

The  sext  maister  rase  vp  onane, 
The  fairest  man  of  tham  ilkane. 
Jesse  was  his  name,  God  ote, 
Withouten  faute  fra  heid  to  fote.  120 

His  haire  was  blayke  and  nothing  broun  j 
With  eghen  faire  als  a  faukoun. 
"  Sir,  he  said,  if  thi  will  were, 
Tak  thi  son  to  me  at  lere  : 


8  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

I  sal  him  teche,  with  hert  fre, 
So  that  inwith  yeres  thre, 
Sal  he  be  so  wise  of  lare, 
That  ye  sal  thank  me  euermare." 
The  seuind  maister  Maxencius, 
A  right  wis  man  and  vertiuus,  130 

(Al  his  life  with  grete  honowre 
Had  he  serued  the  emperoure) 
"  Sir,  he  said,  if  thi  will  be, 
For  al  that  I  haue  serued  the, 
Tac  mi  thi  sone  to  loke  and  lore  ; 

Of  mi  seruise  kep  I  nammore  : 

And  I  the  will  thonke  konne, 

And  al  the  clergie  vnder  sonne 

I  ich  will  into  his  bodi  dight, 

Bathe  bi  daie  and  bi  night."  140 

Dioclician  the  maistres  herde, 

He  strok  his  berd,  and  schok  his  yerde, 

And  on  hem  made  milde  chere, 

And  spak  that  hi  alle  mighte  i-here. 

"  Thonke  I  you  kan,  gode  lordingges, 

Of  youre  gentil  answeringges, 

I  kan  you  thonke  of  youre  speche, 

That  ye  desire  mi  sone  to  teche, 

Your  compaignie  is  fair  and  gent, 

N'el  ich  hit  departe  verraiment."  150 

He  tok  his  sone  by  the  honde  anon, 

An  bitaughte  him  to  hem  everichon. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  9 

Thai  underfengen  him  with  cher  blithe, 

And  thonged  him  a  thousand  sithe. 

The  seuen  wise,  with  gret  glorie, 

That  child  ladde  to  consistorie, 

That  is  a  stede  withimie  Rome, 

Ther  men  makes  wise  dome. 

This  seuen  wise  men,  in  boke, 

Here  conseil  there  togider  toke,  160 

That  he  scholde  nowt  in  Rome  bilaue  ; 

For  burgeis,  maiden,  other  knaue, 

Mighte  him  in  some  riot  sette, 

That  al  his  lore  he  scholde  lette 

Ther  thai  toke  togideres  alle, 

Thai  wolde  make  a  riche  halle, 

Withouten  Rome,  in  on  verger, 

A  mile  thennes,  bi  o  riuer, 

(Tiber  it  hatte  withouten  dout) 

A  mile  long  al  aboute.  170 

Alle  tres  therinne  were, 

That  ani  frut  an  erthe  bere. 

Amideward  thai  founden  a  space, 

An  evene  and  a  grene  place ; 

Therinne  thai  set  an  halle  anon, 

Bothe  of  lim  and  of  ston. 

Quaire  hit  was,  with  chaumbres  sevene  ; 

Was  non  fairer  into  hevene. 

The  halle  was  amidewerd, 

The  fairest  of  this  midelerd.  180 


10  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Therinne  was  paint,  of  Donet  thre  pars, 

And  eke  alle  the  seven  ars. 

The  first  so  was  grammarie, 

Musike,  and  astronomie, 

Geometrie,  and  arsmetrike, 

Rettorike,  and  ek  fisike. 

The  segh  was  in  the  ha  lie 

The  ars  to  bihelden  alle. 

Whan  o  maister  him  let,  another  him  tok  ; 

He  was  ever  upon  his  bok,  190 

And  to  his  lore  tok  gret  kepe, 

But  whan  he  ete,  other  he  slepe. 

The  ferth  yer,  hit  was  no  dout, 

With  his  maister  he  gan  to  despout ; 

The  fifte  ye[r],  he  gan  argument 

Of  the  sterre,  and  of  the  firmament. 

Thei  wolde  prove  in  the  sexte  yer, 

Yif  he  ware  wis  and  wer. 

Leues  thai  tok,  sextene, 

Of  iuy,  that  were  grene  ;  200 

Under  ech  stapel  of  his  bed, 

(That  he  n'iste)  four  thai  hid. 

The  child  yede  to  bedde  anight, 

And  ros  arliche  amorewen,  aplight. 

Hise  maistres  him  bifore  stode, 

Open  hefd,  withouten  hode. 

The  child  lokede  here  and  tar, 

Up  and  doun,  and  everiwhar. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  11 

Hise  maistres  askede  what  him  was  ? 

"  Parfai!  he  seide,  a  ferli  cas!  210 

Other  ich  am  of  wine  dronke, 

Other  the  firmament  is  i-sonke, 

Other  wexen  is  the  grounde 

The  thickness  of  four  leues  rounde. 

So  muche,  to-night,  heyer  I  lai, 

Certes,  thanne  yisterdai." 

The  maistres,  tho,  wel  understode, 

He  coude  inow  of  alle  gode. 

The  seuende  yer  so  tok  he  on, 

He  passede  his  maistres  euerichon.  2£0 

Togider  thai  made  gret  solas  ; 

Ac  sone  hem  fil  a  ferli  cas. 

Dioclician  that  was  in  Rome, 
A  riche  man  and  wis  of  dome, 
His  barons  comen  to  him  on  a  dai, 
And  [said  J  "  Sire,  par  nostrefai, 
Ye  libbeth  an  a  lenge  lif : 
Ye  scholde  take  a  gentil  wife, 
That  you  mit  some  solas  do, 
And  biyeten  children  mo.  230 

Inow  he  habben  of  werldes  won, 
To  make  hem  riche  euerichon." 
Th'  emprour  was  well  i-paied, 
With  that  the  [seven  wise]  had  seid. 
Sone  he  let  him  puruai 
An  emperice,  of  gret  noblai. 


12  THE  SEUYN   SAGES 

He  went  himself,  and  sent  his  sond, 

Wide-whar,  into  fele  lond, 

Fort  that  thai  ani  founde  ; 

A  dammeisele  of  gret  mounde,  240 

Thai  brouwte  here  tofore  themperour. 

He  segh  sche  was  of  feir  co!6ur, 

He  wot  sche  was  of  hegth  parage, 

Anon  thai  asked  the  manage. 

Thai  weren  wedded  bi  commun  dome, 
Anon  in  the  gise  of  Rome  ; 
And  lovede  hem  thourg  alle  thing. 
Herkneth  nou  a  selli  tiding  ! 
Thing  i-hid,  ne  thing  i-stole, 
Ne  mai  nowt  longe  be  for-hole  ;  250 

No  thing  mai  for-hole  be 
But  Godes  owen  privete. 
Som  squier  or  som  seriant  nice, 
Had  i-told  th'  emperice 
Al  of  th'  emperoures  sone, 
Hou  he  with  the  maistres  wone  ; 
And  hire  schildre  scholde  be  bastards, 
And  he  schal  have  al  the  wardes, 
Under  heft,  and  under  bond, 
Of  th'  empire,  and  al  the  lond.  260 

Than  couthe  sche  bothe  qued  an  god  ; 
And  sone  sche  gan  to  pekke  mod  ; 
And  thoughte,  so  stepmoder  doth, 
Into  falsnesse  torne  soth  ; 

8 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  13 

♦ 

And  brew  swich  a  beuerage, 
That  scholde  Florentin  bicache. 
Ac,  manie  weneth  other  to  hirte, 
And  on  hemselue  falleth  at  the  smerte ! 

Th'  emperour  and  his  wif, 
That  he  louede  als  his  lif,  270 

In  chaumbre  togidere  thai  sete  ; 
Gladliche  thai  dronke  and  ete. 
"  Sire,  sche  saide,  gentil  emperour, 
I  th£  love  with  fin  amdur, 
And  thou  nowt  me  sikeli. 
Sire,  ich  wil  telle  the  whi : 
Seue  yer  hit  is  that  thou  me  nome, 
And  made  me  emperice  of  Rome, 
Thi  make  at  bord  and  at  bedde ; 
And  o  thing  thou  hast  fram  [me]  hedde.  280 

Thou  hast  a  sone,  to  scole  i-taught ; 
Lat  me  him  se,  warn  me  him  naught ! 
Hit  is  thi  sone,  and  thin  air ; 
A  wis  child,  and  a  fair. 
Thi  most  time  thou  hast  ben  kyng ; 
Thou  drawest  fast  to  thin  e[n]ding  : 
Fond  we,  Sire,  in  ioie  libbe, 
And  have  ioie  of  oure  sibbe  ; 
For  thi  sone  I  tel  mine, 

Alse  wel  als  tou  dost  thine.  290 

Paraventure,  hit  mai  falle  so, 
That  never  eft  ne  tit  vs  mo. 


14  THE   SEUYN  SAGES. 

Yif  thou  me  lovest  ani  wight, 

Let  me  of  him  han  a  sight ! " — 

"  Certes,  dame,  seide  th'  emperour, 

Hit  ne  schal  novvt  be  long  sojour ; 

To-more  we,  ar  underade  of  dai, 

Thou  schalt  him  sen,  par  mafai" 

And  sche  seide,  with  chere  blithe, 

"  Graunt  merci,  sire,  a  thouse[n]d  sithe."        300 

Amorewe  th'  emperour  gan  rise, 
And  clothed  him  in  riche  gise. 
Messagers  he  clepede  to, 
.Mid  quik  thai  com  toforn  him  bo, 
He  scharged  hem  with  his  message, 
And  bad  hem  grete  the  seven  sage  : 
"  And  seieth  hem,  with  wordes  bonair, 
Mi  sone  that  thai  atire  fair, 
And  brenge  him  horn  in  faire  manere, 
For  ich  wil  quik  of  him  here,  3  J  0 

Hou  he  had  sped  this  seue  yer. 
Me  thinketh  longe  that  n'er  er." 
The  messagers  anon  forht  sprong, — 
I  n'ot  bi  waie  yif  thai  song, — 
Til  thai  come  to  that  inne, 
Ther  the  maistres  woned  inne. 
And,  as  we  finden  writen  in  boke, 
Aither  other  be  the  hond  toke  ; 
And  in  thai  wente  right  euene, 
And  founde  the  maistres  alle  seuene,  320 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  15 

Disputend,  in  hire  Latyn, 

With  that  child  Florentyn. 

The  messagers  on  knes  hem  sette, 

And  the  seven  wise  thai  grette> 

In  th'  emperours  bihelue, 

And  the  child  be  himselue : 

And  seide  that  emperour  het, 

His  sone  that  thai  bi  inngge  him  sket, 

To  Rome  toun,  to  his  presens. 

"  Your  trauail,  and  youre  despens,  330 

He  wil  aquite  for  ech  a  yer, 

After  that  yhe  worthi  wer." 

The  messagers  were  welcome, 

And  bi  the  hond  quik  y-nome, 

And  at  the  mete  tales  hem  telde, 

What  the  sonne  gan  to  helde. 

Hout  wente  the  maistres  sevene, 

And  bihelden  up  toward  hevene  : 

Thai  seghe  the  constillacioun. 

The  wisest  in  that  so  was  Katoun  ;  340 

He  gan  to  loke  in  the  mone, 

And  seide  that  him  thought  sone  : 

"  Lordinges,  he  saide,  for  Godes  sond, 

To  mi  telling  understond  ! 

The  emperour  to  ous  had  sent, 

To  brenge  him  his  sone  gent. 

Yif  we  him  bring  biforn  our  lord, 

He  sterueth  ate  ferste  word 


16  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

That  he  schal  in  court  speke  ! 

Thanne  he  wil  of  ous  be  wreke,  350 

To-draue  ous,  other  to-hongi  sone, 

This  I  se  wel  in  the  mone." 

The  other  said,  withouten  oth, 

That  Catoun  hem  saide  soht. 

Schild  Florentin  was  lered  in  boke, 
And,  in  a  ster  he  gan  to  loke, 
Whiche  that  sat  next  the  mone  ; 
And  saide  that  him  though te  sone, 
That  he  wist  thourgh  alle  thing, 
Of  that  sterre  the  toknyng.  360 

Thanne  saide  the  maistres  to  Florentin, 
"  What  sextou,  leue  child,  tharin  ?" 
He  seide,  "  Maistre,  I  schal  wel  liuen, 
Yif  I  mai,  this  daies  seuen, 
Kepe  me  fram  answering, 
I  mai  live  to  god  ending, 
And  sauve  me  to  warisoun, 
And  you  fram  destruccioun." 
The  maistres  han  wel  devise 
The  childes  tale  was  god  and  wise.  370 

Than  seide  master  Bancillas, 
"  Here  is  now  a  ferli  cas ! 
Counseil  we  al  herupon  ; 
Hou  that  we  mai  best  don." 
Than  seide  the  schild,  "  Saunz  fail, 
Ich  you  right  wil  counseil. 


THE   SEUYN  SAGES.  17 

This  seven  daies  I  n'el  nowt  speke ; 

Nowt  a  word  of  mi  mowht  breke  ; 

And  ye  beth  maistres  gode  and  wise, 

In  al  this  werld  of  mest  prise ;  380 

Litel  ye  conne,  par  mafai, 

But  echon  of  yo  mai  saue  me  a  dai ! 

The  aighteden  dai,  ich  meselue, 

So  the  ax  pelt  in  the  helue, 

That  schal  hewe  the  wai  atwo 

That  had  wrout  me  this  wo." 

Than  saide  master  Bancillas, 

"  So  God  me  helpe,  and  Seint  Nicholas, 

I  schal  the  waranti  o  dai ! " 

"  And  I,"  quath  Catoun,  "  par  mafai,  390 

Schal  the  warrant  another  also." 

Alle  the  maistres  speken  tho, 

Thai  wald,  [by]  wit  and  resoun, 

Saue  the  child  fram  destruccioun, 

Fram  schame,  and  fram  vilani. 

"  Maistres,  he  saide,  graunt  merci ! 

Certes,  hi[t]  bihoveth  so, 

For  I  sschal  tholi  mochel  wo, 

Gret  despit,  and  strong  tourment, 

But  ye  be  queinte  of  argument ! "  400 

With  this  word,  thai  ben  alle 
Departed,  and  comen  to  halie, 
And  maked  at  ese  the  messagers, 
With  god  serablant,  and  glade  chers. 

VOL.  III.  u 


18  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  whan  hit  com  to  time  of  night, 

To  riche  bed  thai  were  i-dight ; 

And  Florentin  the  schild,  also, 

To  his  bed  he  gan  to  go ; 

And  thought  al  night,  her  and  ter, 

Hou  that  he  might  be  wis  and  wer  410 

To  overcome  the  emperice, 

That  he  n'ere  nowt  i-holden  nice. 

The  night  passeth,  the  dai  comen  is ; 

The  seuen  maistres  arisen,  I  wis. 

The  maistres,  and  the  messagers, 

Habbeth  greithed  here  destrers, 

And  that  schild,  wel  fair  i-dight : 

And  went  hem  forht  anon  right. 

Thai  dede  hem  out  of  that  gardin, 

That  is  i-cleped  "  the  bois  of  Seint  Martin,"  420 

And  here  way  toke  to  Rome. 

The  maistres  here  wai  ay  en  nome. 

Tiding  had  th'  emperour, 
His  sone  com  with  gret  honour. 
Anon  he  let  a  stede  dight, 
And  rod  him  ayen  with  mani  a  knight. 
Whan  he  him  seghth  than  was  he  blithe, 
And  kest  him  wel  mani  a  sithe. 
Knight,  and  erl,  and  mani  baroun, 
Kiste  the  emperour's  sonn,  430 

And  ladde  him,  with  gret  noblais, 
To  th*  emperour  palais. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  19 

The  emperice  him  wil  honour, 

Do  him  sonde  into  hire  bour. 

Scho  ladde  fram  bour  to  bour, 

And  dede  here  men6  make  retour. 

She  schette  the  dore,  and  set  him  on  benche. 

Wil  ye  nou  i-here  of  wommannes  wrenche  ? 

The  emperice  was  queinte  in  dede, 

And  [in]  hire  wrenche,  and  in  hire  falshede.    440 

Sche  and  the  schild  alone  wer  than  ; 

Was  with  hem  non  other  man. 

Be  his  side  sche  set  hire  fast, 

On  him  sche  gan  her  egghen  kast, 

And  saide,  "  Mi  leve  suete  grom^ 

Swithe  welcome  be  thou  horn ! 

I  have  i-cast  to  the  mi  loue, 

Of  al  worhtlich  thing  abouew 

Thi  louerd,  the  emperour,  is  old ; 

Of  kinde,  of  bodi  he  is  cold.  450 

I  swere,  bi  sonne  and  bi  mone, 

With  me  ne  hadde  he  neuer  to  done ; 

But,  for  ich  herde  telle  of  thi  pris, 

That  thou  were  honde,  gentil,  and  wis, 

For  to  haue  with  the  acord, 

Ich  am  i-wedded  to  thi  lord. 

Kes  me,  leman,  and  loue  me, 

And  I  thi  soget  wil  i-be. 

So  God  me  helpe,  for  he  hit  wot, 

To  the  ich  have  i-kept  mi  maidenhod !  *  460 


20  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Sche  kest  here  armes  aboute  his  swere  ; 

Ac  he  made  lourand  chere, 

And  drowgh  awai  with  al  his  might ; 

He  wold  his  lord  don  non  unright. 

Whan  the  emperice  that  understod, 

Al  achaunged  was  hire  blod, 

And  saide  to  him,  "  Sweting  fre, 

Whi  n'el  ton  nowt  speke  with  me  ?" 

For  no  thing  that  sche  mightte  do, 

O  word  n'olde  he  speken  her  to.  470 

Than  the  emperice  wex  wroth  ; 
Sche  tar  hire  her  and  ek  here  cloth. 
Here  kirtel,  here  pilche  of  ermine, 
Here  keuerchefs  of  silk,  here  smok  o  line, 
Al  togidere,  with  both  fest, 
Sche  to-rent  binethen  here  brest. 
With  both  honden  here  yaulew  here 
Out  of  the  tresses  sche  hit  tere ; 
And  sche  to-cragged  hire  visage, 
And  gradde,  "  Harow !"  with  gret  rage.  480 

In  halle  was  th'  emperour. 
"  Who  had  the  don  this  desonour  ?" 
"  Bot  this  deuel,  that  her  is, 
Hadde  me  ner  i-rauisscht,  I  wis  ! 
Hadde  ich  ben  a  while  stille, 
With  me  he  hadde  don  his  wille  ; 
And  but  ye  hadde  the  rather  i-come, 
Par  force  he  hadde  me  forht  i  nome. 


THE  SEUYJM  SAGES.  21 

Lo  hou  he  ad  me  to  rent, 

Mi  bodi  and  mi  face  i  schent.  490 

He  ne  was  neuere  of  thi  blod ! 

Lat  him  binde,  for  he  his  wod ; 

A  fend  he  is  in  kinde  of  man. 

Binde  him,  sire,  and  lede  han, 

For  wod  of  wit  I  schal  be, 

Yif  ich  lengere  on  him  see." 

"  He  schal  abigge !"  saide  th'  emperour, 

And  cleped  forht  a  turmentour. 

Quik  he  het  his  sone  take, 

And  spoili  him  of  clothes  nake,  500 

And  beten  him  with  scourges  stronge, 

And  afterward  him  hegghe  an-honge. 

"  Blethliche  ! "  the  boies  quathe  ; 

And  tok  the  schild,  swithe  rathe, 

And  ladde  him  forht  thourgh  the  halle, 

Among  th'  erles  and  barons  alle. 

Euele  thai  gonnen  him  bisen ; 

Gentil  ronnen  him  bitwen, 

And  asked  anon  of  this  cas. 

Thai  saide,  "  Here  lordes  heste  hit  was."        510 

Anon  thai  ronnen  into  the  bour, 

Biforn  here  lord  the  emperour, 

And  blamed  him  he  dede  that  dede, 

Withouten  counseil  and  rede ; 

And  bad  him,  that  thilke  sorewe 

Most  be  respit  til  amorewe, 


22  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 

"  And  thanne  saue  him  other  slen, 

Bi  conseil  of  thi  gentil  men." 

The  emperour  than  spared  his  sone, 

Add  het  him  caste  in  his  pris6ne.  520 

The  emperice  was  fol  wroth 

That  the  child  was  spared,  forsoht, 

And  wel  mochel  hit  here  traid. 

Sche  thought  wel  more  thanne  sche  said. 

An  even  late,  the  emperour 
Was  browt  to  bedde  with  honour. 
The  emperice,  his  worhtli  fere, 
To  him  cam  with  lourand  chere, 
And  the  emperour  asked  why 
Sche  made  semblant  so  sori.  530 

w  O  sire,  sche  saide,  no  wonder  n'is ; 
For  now  to  londe  i-comen  is, 
He  that  schal,  in  thin  eld  age, 
Benime  the  thin  heritage." 
"  Pais,  dame  !  who  schal  that  be  ? " — 
"  Thin  howen  sone,  I  segge  the." — 
"  Min  owen  sone  ?  dame,  nay ! 
Ne  schalt  tou  neuere  se  that  dai, 
That  he  schal  haue  ani  might 
Me  for  to  don  unright."  540 

"  Pais,  sire,  what  halt  hit  heled 
To-dai  tho  hast  him  fram  deth  i-speled. 
Ase  wel  mot  hit  like  the, 
Als  dede  the  pinnote  tre 


THE   SEUYN   SAGES.  23 

Of  his  ympe  that  he  forht  browte." 
The  emperour  lai  and  more  thoughte ; 
And  bad  hire,  with  semblannt  fre, 
Tellen  him  of  that  ilche  tre, 
And  of  the  ympe,  al  the  cas. 


THE  I.  TALE. 

THE  PINNOTE-TREE  AND  ITS    YMPE. 

"  Whilom  a  riche  burgeis  was,  550 

And  woned  her  in  Rome  toun  ; 
A  riche  man  of  gret  renoun. 
He  hadde,  bihinden  his  paleys, 
A  fair  gardin  of  noblays, 
Ful  of  appel  ties,  and  als  of  pirie  ; 
Foules  songe  therinne  murie. 
Amideward  that  gardyn  fre, 
So  wax  a  pinnote-tre, 
That  hadde  fair  bowes  and  frnt ; 
Ther-under  was  al  his  dedwt.  560 

He  made  ther-under  a  grene  bench, 
And  drank  ther-under  mani  a  sscench. 


24  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Certes,  therinne  was  al  his  playing 
In  time  of  solas,  and  his  resting. 

"  So  bifel  upon  a  dai, 
The  burgeis  fram  home  tok  his  wai ; 
He  bough te  marchaundise,  and  his  chaffare, 
And  bileued  oute  al  a  yare. 
Al  so  sone  so  he  mighte, 

Homward  he  gan  him  dighte.  570 

Whan  he  was  lith  at  his  in, 
Quik  he  wente  to  his  gardin, 
His  fair  tre  for  to  sen ; 
Thanne  seggh  he  wexe  a  litel  stren, 
A  yong  ympe  vt  of  his  rote ; 
Fair  hit  him  thoughte,  and  svvote. 
Ac  that  ympe  that  so  sprong, 
Hit  was  sschort  and  nothing  long. 
The  burgeis  cleped  his  gardiner. 
"  Lo,  he  saide,  lo  me  her !  580 

Seste  thou  this  ympe,  of  gret  mounde, 
Kanst  thou  me  telle  gode  bounde, 
Whi  hit  is  so  short  wering?" 
"  Ya,  sire,  he  saide,  be  heuene  king ! 
The  grete  bough  that  over  him  is, 
So  him  bisschadeweth,  I  wis, 
That  hit  mai  haue  no  thedom." 
"  Neghe  up,  he  saide,  mi  gode  grom, 
And  hak  awai  the  grete  bough, 
That  hit  ne  do  min  ympe  no  wough."  590 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  25 

The  gardiner,  as  his  louerd  het, 

Hew  awai  the  bough  al  swet, 

And  asked  yif  hit  was  wel  i-do. 

Another  he  bad  him  kit  therto  ; — 

"  Than  mai,  withouten  letting, 

Min  himpe  jolifliche  spring." 

Nou  ben  hise  bowes  awai  i-sschore, 

And  mochel  of  his  beaute  forlore. 

The  ympe  had  roum,  and  wexeth  fast. 

The  olde  tre  his  vertu  gan  acast :  600 

For  no  wonder  hit  n'is, 

Of  the  maister-rote  hit  is 

Out  i-sprong,  and  out  i-sschet, 

And  his  bowes  awai  i-kett ; 

Tharfore  that  olde  tre  les  his  pride, 

And  asered  bi  that  o  side. 

The  gode  burgeis,  on  a  dai, 

His  ympe  thriuende  he  sai, 

Fair  i-woxe  and  fair  i-sprad, 

But  the  olde  tre  was  abrad.  610 

He  clepid  his  gardener  tho, 

And  asked  whi  the  olde  tre  verd  so. 

He  answerede,  als  he  wel  couthe, 

"  Sikerliche,  ich  telle  the  nouthe, 

The  yonge  impe  that  wide  springes, 

Had  large  roum  in  alle  thingges, 

And,  for  the  elde  tre  is  so  i-hewed, 

Hit  [is]  so  wikked  and  so  sschrewed." 


t6  THE  SKUYN  SAGES. 

The  burgeis  seide,  "  Seththe  the  elde 

Biginneth  so  to  unbelde,  620 

Hewe  him  to  the  grounde  dounright  ; 

Lat  the  yonge  tre  atire,  aplight. 

Thous  was  the  olde  tre  doun  i-thrawe, 

And  the  yonge  tre  forht  i-drawe. 

"  Gode  sire,  gent  and  fre, 
That  olde  tre  bitokneth  the. 
The  yonge  bitokneth  thi  sone  wode, 
That  is  i-spronge  out  of  thi  blode. 
He  sschal  be  sone  forht  i-drawe, 
And  maister  ;  and  thou  his  knaue.  630 

Hit  wil  wel  sone  ben  i-do, 
And  thou  take  kep  therto  : 
And  but  thou  do,  thou  ne  hast  no  might. 
That  I  biseke  to  oure  dright, 
That  als  hit  mote  fare  bi  the, 
As  dede  bi  the  pinnote-tre." 

"  Certes,  dame,  thou  seist  for  nowt ; 
I  ne  schal  neuere  so  bin  bicaught. 
Ich  the  bihote,  sikerliche, 

He  schal,  tomorewe  erliche,  640 

To  deth  be  don  ;  and  that  is  right." 
And  thous  passede  the  ferste  night. 

Amorewe  aros  the  emperour, 
And  mani  baroun  of  gret  honour. 


THE  SETJYN  SAGES.  2? 

Men  vndede  the  gates  of  the  paleis, 

In  com  goende  mani  burgeis. 

Sone  was  fild  paleys  and  tour, 

In  com  goind  th'  emperour. 

u  Goht,  he  seigh,  to  the  prisone, 

And  fechcheth  forht  mine  sone,  650 

And  quik  that  he  war  an-honge, 

On  heghe  galewes  and  on  stronge." 

The  boies  gede  anon  doun, 

And  fesched  the  child  out  of  prisoun, 

And  ladde  him  forht  thour  the  halle, 

Among  the  erles  and  barouns  alle. 

For  that  schild,  that  naked  was, 

Mani  bade  th'  emperice  evel  gras  ! 

Than  com  ridend  Bancillas, 
(The  childes  firste  maister  he  was)  660 

And  segghe  his  deciple  harde  bistad ; 
Tharfore  he  was  in  herte  vnglad. 
He  rod  to  th'  emperour's  halle, 
And  lighte,  and  passede  the  knightes  alle, 
And  fint  sone  th'  emperour, 
And,  "  Sire,"  saide,  "  Deu  vous  doint  bonjour  /" 
Th7  emperour  saide,  "  God  the  defende 
Fram  god  dai  and  fram  god  ende !" 

Than  seide  maister  Bancillas, 
"  Wlii  artou  wroht,  and  for  what  cas  ?  670 

Wil  tou  sle  thin  owen  child  ? 
Ne  were  thou  wone  be  god  and  mild." 


28  THE  SKUYN  SAGES. 

"  Hit  n'is  no  wonder,  saide  th*  emperour ; 

Thou  schalt  ben  an-honged,  thou  losenjour  ! 

For,  to  the  and  thine  fere, 

I  bitok  mi  sone  to  lere, 

For  to  haue  i-taught  him  god, 

And  ye  have  i-mad  him  wod. 

Mi  wif  he  wolde  have  forleyn  : 

Hit  n'is  no  wonder  though  I  have  trayn  !  680 

He  schal  therfore  ben  i-slawe, 

And  afterward  al  to-drawe." 

Than  seide  maister  Bancillas, 

"  Sire,  that  were  now  a  sori  cas. 

Thei  he  had  i-wraththed  your  wif, 

Yit  had  he  nowt  agelt  his  lif. 

Sauue  youre  grace,  wene  ich  hit  nowt, 

Hit  euere  com  in  his  thout." 

Th?  emperour  saide,  "  I  fond  hire  to-rent : 
Hire  her,  and  hire  face  i-schent ;  690 

And  who  is  founde  hond-habbing, 
Hit  n'is  non  nede  of  witnessing  !" 
Saide  Bancillas,  "  Hit  n'is  non  hale 
To  leue  stepmoderes  tale. 
Yif  thou  him  slest,  bi  hire  purchas, 
On  the  falle  swich  a  cas, 
As  fel  upon  a  gentil  knight, 
And  of  his  graihond  that  was  to  wight." 
a  O  maister,  for  Godes  mounde, 
IIou  bifel  the  knight  of  his  grehonde  ?"  700 


THE  SEUYN   SAGES.  29 

"  Therwhile,  sire,  that  I  tolde  this  tale, 

Thi  sone  mighte  tholie  dethes  bale  ; 

Thanne  were  mi  tale  forlore  ! 

Ac,  of-sende  thi  sone  therfore, 

And  yif  him  respit  of  his  bale, 

And  thou  schalt  here  a  foul  fair  tale." 

Th'  emperour  saide,  "  Respit  I  graunt ; 

Fech  him  hider  a  serjaunt/' 

Quik  ran  the  messager. 

With  god  semblant  and  glade  cher,  710 

He  louted  his  maister  that  com  him  bi, 

As  he  was  lad  to  prisonn  sti ; 

"  Maister,  seide  th'  emperour,  tel  this  cas." 

"  Blethliche,"  saide  sire  Bancillas. 


THE  II.  TALE. 

THE   KNIGHT  AND  HIS  GREHONDE. 

"  Sire,  whilom  was  in  this  cite, 
In  a  dai  of  the  trenete, 
A  swithe  noble  strong:  burclis, 
Of  men  that  were  of  noble  pi  is. 


30  THE  SETJYN  SAGES. 

In  a  mede  was  this  tourney, 

Of  men  that  were  of  gret  noblai.  720 

The  knyght  in  the  mede  hadde  o  maner, 

Al  biclosed  with  o  riuer, 

Of  chaumbers,  and  of  hegghe  halle, 

Of  old  werk,  for-crased  alle. 

The  knight  hadde  a  fair  leuedi ; 

A  wel  fair  child  sche  hadde  him  bi. 

Hit  hadde  of  thre  norices  keping  ; 

The  ferste  gaf  hit  soukying  ; 

That  other  norice  him  scholde  bathe, 

Whan  hit  was  time,  late  an  rathe  ;  730 

The  thridde  norice  him  scholde  wassche. 

The  child  was  keped  tendre,  an  nessche. 

The  knight  hadde  a  graihond, 

Y-n'as  no  better  in  lond  i-found. 

Alle  the  bestes  that  [he]  ran  to 

He  tok,  bothe  hert  and  ro. 

He  was  so  hende,  and  wel  i-taught ; 

He  n'olde  yiue  him  for  non  aught. 

The  knight  was  lopen  on  his  stede, 

And  armed  wel  in  iron  wede,  740 

The  scheld  aboute  his  nekk,  the  spere  on  his  hond 

And  burdised  with  the  kniohtes  of  the  lond. 

The  leuedi  stod,  in  pount  tournis, 

For  to  bihelde  the  burdis. 

The  norice  went  out  of  the  halle, 

And  set  the  cradel  under  the  walle. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  31. 

Mani  stede  ther  ran  and  lep  ; 

To  hem  men  toke  gode  kep. 

An  addre  was  norissched  in  the  wal, 

And  herde  the  riding,  and  the  noise  al,  750 

And  pelt  out  here  heued  to  se  that  wonder, 

And  segh  that  schiid  ligge  therunder. 

He  crep  to  grounde  quik  anon, 

In  the  cradel  the  child  to  slon. 

The  graihond  seghth  the  adder  red, 

Grislich,  rough,  strong  and  qued ; 

Anon  he  gan  hire  to  asail, 

And  hente  here  in  his  mouth,  saun  faiL 

The  adder  so  the  grehound  stang, 

And  he  feled  the  bite  so  Strang,  760 

Anon  he  let  the  adder  gon  : 

Upon  the  cradel  sche  fleigh  anon, 

And  was  aboute  the  child  to  sting. 

And  the  greihond  com  yerne  flingging, 

And  hente  the  adder  in  strong  ger, 

And  flapped  here  al  aboute  his  er  ; 

Bitwene  the  adder  and  the  grehound, 

The  cradel  turnd  up  so  doun  on  ground, 

Up  so  doun,  in  hire  feghting, 

That  the  child  lai  dweling.  770 

The  stapeles  hit  upheld  al  quert, 

That  the  child  n'as  nowt  i-hert. 

The  addre  so*  the  greihoun  bot, 

Bi  the  side,  God  hit  wot, 


32  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

He  cried,  and  on  the  cradel  lep, 

And  bledde  theron  a  wel  gret  hep  ! 

And  whan  the  smert  was  al  i-gon, 

To  that  addre  he  sterte  anon, 

And  bi  the  bodi  he  him  hent, 

And  al  to  peces  here  to-rent.  780 

The  grehound  wolde  nowt  sessed  be, 

Til  that  adder  ware  toren  of  thre, 

And  al  the  place  ther  aboute, 

Was  wel  blodi  withouten  doute. 

The  burdis  to-yede,  the  folk  gan  hom  tee, 

And  the  norices  alle  thre. 

The  cradel  and  the  child  thai  found 

Up  so  doun  upon  the  ground  ; 

The  greihoun  ci  iede  for  his  smert ; 

The  norice  was  sori  in  hert ;  790 

And  eche  of  hem  understode, 

That  the  greihond  was  wod, 

And  hadde  that  faire  child  i-slawe. 

Awai  thai  gonne  fie  and  drawe, 

Als  hit  were  wode  wimmen. 

The  leuedi  com  hom  ayen, 

And  asked  hem  what  hem  was  ? 

Anon  thai  telde  here  al  the  cas. 

Thai  lowen  on  that  greihound  hende; 

Hit  was  pite  so  God  ma  mende  !  800 

"  The  leuedi,  when  sche  herde  this, 
Aswone  sche  nl  adoun,  I  wis. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  33 

The  knight  com  fram  the  justing  fare ; 

Anon  asked  hem  what  hem  ware  ? 

"  Sire,  quadth  sche,  ich  wille  bi  ded ! 

I  n'elle  never  ete  bred ; 

For  thi  greihond,  that  is  so  wilde, 

Hath  i-slawe  oure  faire  childe  : 

And  but  ye  willen  him  slen  anon, 

Right  now  ich  wille  mi  lif  forgon.  810 

The  knight,  for  rage,  into  halle  set ; 

His  hende  graihond  ther  he  met, 

That  him  welcomed  with  fot  and  tail. 

The  knight  drowgh  his  swerd,  saunz  fail ; 

The  graihond  on  the  rigge  he  hit, 

Into  the  grounde  he  him  slit. 

The  greihound  is  ded ;  the  knight  goth  forth, 

Into  his  halle  grim  and  wroth. 

Of  the  adder  he  fond  mani  tronsoun, 

And  the  cradel  up  so  doun.  820 

He  turneth  the  cradel  and  fint  the  child  quik, 

Hoi  and  sond,  and  hath  ferlich. 

He  seghth  the  adder  the  graihound  slowgh  ; 

He  hadde  slawen  his  greihond  with  wough  ! 

He  cride  and  made  mochel  sorewe  : 

"  Ne  be  that  man  neuere  i-borewe, 

But  in  euel  water  adreint, 

That  ever  leue  wimmannes  pleint  ! " 

Eft  he  maketh  a  gret  cri ; 

And  he  clepeth  the  leuedi,  830 

VOL.  III.  c 


34  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  on  the  knightes  and  sweines  also, 

And  pleined  him  of  his  mochel  wo  ; 

And  sschewede  his  child  hoi  and  sound, 

And  slawen  was  his  gode  graihond, 

For  his  prouesse  and  his  gode  dede, 

Al  for  his  fole  wiues  rede  ! 

"  O  grehound !  he  seide,  wight  and  strong, 

I  schal  miselue  abigge  that  wrong, 

And  tache  other  knightes,  saun  fail, 

To  leue  here  leuedis  conseil ! "  840 

He  set  him  doun  in  that  thrawe ; 

Als  quik  he  dede  his  schon  of-drawe, 

And  karf  his  vaumpes,  fot-hot, 

And  wente  him  forht  al  barfot, 

Withouten  leue  of  wif  and  child, 

And  wente  into  a  forest  wild, 

Into  desert  fram  alle  men  ; 

Wolde  he  never  come  agen. 

He  tholede  mani  a  biter  stounde, 

For  the  wrong  of  his  greihonde.  850 

"  So  falle  on  the,  sire  emperour, 
Swich  arm,  and  schame,  and  desonour, 
Yif  thou  do  thi  sone  unright, 
Als  to  the  greihound  dede  the  knight. 
Thourgth  the  counseil  of  hiis  wif, 
He  sloughth  his  greihond  nowt  geltif." 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES,  35 

"  O  maister,  bi  Peter  that  ich  have  sought, 

So  schal  hit  bifalle  nowt ! 

Nou,  bi  God  that  I  schaJ  serue, 

To-dai  more  ne  schal  he  sterue.  860 

The  court  wente  ;  the  maister  tok  leue  ; 

Hit  gan  sone  to  wexen  eue. 

Th'  emperour  com  to  chaumbre  anon ; 

Th'  emperice  him  loured  upon. 

Th'  emperour  saide,  "  Dame,  artou  wroth  ?" 

"  Ye,  sire,  sche  saide,  forsoht." 

"  Tell  me  now,  sweting  fre  I" 

"  Thou  wost  wel,  so  mot  ich  se, 

For  I  the  warn  of  thine  fon, 

And  thou  ne  kanst  me  thank  non.  870 

Thou  clepest  thi  sone  :  he  is  the  deuel ! 

He  schal  the  do  wel  mochel  iuel. 

But  thou  me  of  him  wil  awreke, 

Al  folk  mot  hit  wite  and  speke. 

He  mot  the  bringge  to  swich  ending, 

Als  hadde  the  bor  for  his  cracheing." 

"  The  bor  ?  dame,  tel  that  me  ; 

Whi  for  cracheing  deied  he  ?" 

"  Sire,  nou  thou  wilt  wite  that  cas, 

Ich  wille  the  telle  hou  hit  was.  880 


36  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 


THE  III.  TALE. 

THE  BORE  AND  THE  HERD. 

a  Sire,  quath  the  leuedi,  here  bi  west, 
Ther  was  a  fair  riche  forest ; 
A  bor  was  norischt  tharinne, 
Fram  a  pig  to  a  swine. 
Of  the  bor  was  swich  los, 
To  gon  therinne  ech  man  agros  : 
Ne  dorst  ther  come  knight  ne  swein. 
In  the  forest  was  a  plein, 
And  in  the  pleyn  a  tre  of  hawes, 
That  ripe  were  be  tho  dawes.  890 

The  bor  hem  gan  ful  sone  asmelle. 
Ech  he  het  therof  his  felle. 
In  that  forest  woned  an  herd, 
That  of  bestes  loked  an  sterd. 
O  best  him  was  araught ; 
Wide  war  he  hit  hadde  i-sought ; 
Be  the  hawe-tre  he  gan  come, 
And  thoughte  to  haue  therof  some. 
Ful  he  gaderede  his  barm, 

Yet  ne  thought  he  of  non  harm ;  900 

In  his  other  lappe  he  gaderede  some. 
The  felle  bor  bicam  to  come. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  37 

The  herde  him  seghth,  and  was  of-drad  : 

He  dorst  nowt  fle  he  was  so  mad. 

Up  to  the  hawe-tre  he  steghth ; 

The  bor  him  com  swithe  neghth, 

And  he  ne  findeth  hawe  non, 

As  he  was  i-wont  to  don. 

He  loked  up  and  segth  the  herd ; 

He  criede,  and  makede  rewli  rerd;  910 

He  wette  his  tossches  and  his  fet, 

The  erthe  with  his  snowte  he  bet. 

Thourgh  the  mount  the  fom  was  wight, 

The  tusches  in  the  tie  he  smit ; 

The  tre  aresede  as  hit  wold  falle, 

The  herd  was  sori  adrad  withalle, 

And  gan  sone  on  knes  to  falle. 

This  segth  the  herd-man 

That  the  bor  falle  bigan.  920 

He  kest  the  bor  doun  hawes  anowe, 

And  com  himself  doun  bi  a  bowe. 

With  the  left  hond  he  heng, 

And  with  the  right  hond  on  the  bor  he  feng. 

He  clew  the  bor  on  the  rigge, 

And  he  bigan  doun  to  ligge, 

He  clewe  him  eft  upon  the  wombe ; 

He  fil  adoun  als  a  lombe  ; 

He  lek  his  eghen,  and  gan  to  slape. 

The  knif  drouth  the  herde  knape,  930 


38  THE  SEUYN  SAGES." 

Out  he  drough  scharp  an  long  ; 
The  bor  to  the  herte  he  stong. 
The  herd  thous,  with  his  long  knif, 
Biraft  the  bor  of  his  lif. 
He  went  him  forth,  and  let  him  ligge. 

"  Lo,  sire  emperour,  I  the  sigge, 

Thou  art  the  bor;  thi  maister  the  clawes, 

With  fals  resoun,  and  wikkede  sawes  ; 

And  on  the  he  wetteth  his  teth, 

Til  thai  the  bringge  to  thi  deth.  940 

With  clawing  thai  sculle  the  desceiue, 

Til  thai  the  sle  with  dethes  glaiue." 

"  Certes,  dame,  I  sigge  no : 

Hit  schal  nevere  bifalle  so. 

Forsothe  he  sschal  tomorewe  dai, 

Withouten  ani  more  derail" 

And  sche  saide,  ones  other  twiis, 

"  Gentil  sire,  graunt-mercys  ! 

God  yif  the  therto  strengthe  and  might : 

To  dethe  him  do  er  hit  be  night."  950 

The  night  passede,  the  dai  com. 

The  highe  emperour  of  Rom 

Went  adoun  of  his  tour, 

With  herte  wroth,  and  gret  irour. 

Men  unkek  gate  and  halle-dore. 

Barouns  entrede  in  astore ; 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  39 

Sone  was  filt  paleys  and  tour. 

In  com  gon  th'  emperour 

Biforen  hem,  in  grete  traye  ; 

He  het  mani  a  wikke  boie  960 

His  sone  lede  toward  the  hangging : 

Hit  was  i-do  withouten  letting. 

And  right  amideward  the  pres 

Come  ride  maister  Ancilles, 

That  the  childes  other  maister  was, 

And  i-segh  that  ferli  cas. 

Toward  the  halle  he  gan  driue, 

And  highede  thider  fast  and  bliue, 

And  fond  sone  that  emperour, 

And  gret  him  sone  with  honour.  970 

Th'  emperour,  sikerliche, 

On  him  loked  litherliche  ; 

And  to  the  maister  he  saide  thore, 

"  Maugre  have  thou  for  thi  lore ! 

Thou  hast  i-serued  wikked  mede  ; 

Thou  schalt  hit  haue,  so  Crist  me  spede ! " 

Than  saide  maister  Ancilles, 

"  For  Godes  loue,  sire,  hold  thi  pes  ! 

Wiltou  sle  thin  owen  sone  ? 

To  ben  milde  hit  was  thi  wone  !"  980 

"  Hit  n'is  no  wonder,  saide  th'  emperour, 

Thou  schalt  be  an-honged,  thou  vile  loseniour. 

Ich  tok  the  mi  sone  to  lore, 

For  to  teche  him  wisdom  more, 


40  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  ye  han  him  bitreid  : 

His  speche  is  loren,  ich  am  desmaid. 

Mi  wif  he  wolde  haue  forht  i-take  ! 

To  deth  (he  seide)  he  schal  ben  don  with  wrake." 

Than  seide  the  maister,  "  Hit  is  non  hale 

To  leve  stepmoderes  tale,  990 

For  here  bolt  is  sone  i-schote, 

More  to  harm  than  to  note. 

Yif  thou  him  [slai]  bi  hire  purchas, 

On  the  falle  swich  a  cas, 

Als  fil  on  Ypocras  the  gode  clerk, 

That  slow  his  neveu  with  fals  werk." 

"  Maister,  he  seide,  tel  me  that  cas 

Of  the  scoler  and  of  Ypocras." 

Ancilles  said  als  so  tit, 

"  Thi  sone  to-dai  mak  thou  quit,  1000 

Til  to-morewe  hit  be  dai  light, 

And  I  the  scha[l]  telle,  anon  right, 

With  gret  felouie  and  with  wouhgh, 

Hou  Ypocras  his  neveu  slowgh." 

"  I  schal  him  respite,"  saide  th'  emperour ; 

And  het  anon,  withouten  soiour, 

Men  scholde  ay  en  fechche  his  sone, 

And  caste  him  into  prisone. 

The  child  was  brout  into  the  toun, 

With  a  fair  processioun,  1010 

And  into  prisoun  pilt  he  was. 

Nou  ginneth  the  tale  of  Ypocras. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  41 


TALE  IV. 

THE  TALE  OF  YPOCRAS  AND  HIS  NEVEU. 

"  Sire,  Ypocras  was  maister  here  ; 
Of  leche-craft  was  non  his  pere. 
He  hadde  with  him  his  nev£u  ; 
That  schild  Iere  of  his  vertu. 
He  segh  the  child  so  queinte  of  lore, 
He  wolde  techen  him  nammore. 
He  thoughte  wel,  at  a  score, 
He  sscholde  passi  him  before.  1020 

The  child  aparceiued  wel  this, 
And  held  hit  in  his  herte,  I  wis. 
His  ernes  werk  he  gan  aspie, 
Til  he  couthe  al  his  maistrie. 
Tho  Ypocras  wel  he  fond, 
Bi  craft  of  the  childes  hond, 
That  he  couthe  al  his  mastrie, 
And  brast  negh  forth  onde  and  vie. 
So  bifel  vpon  a  time  ying, 

Of  Hongrie  the  riche  king,  1 030 

Hadde  swich  a  sone  gent ; 
To  Ypocras  anon  he  sent, 
That  he  scholde  come  his  sone  to  hale, 
And  habbe  gold  ful  a  male. 

8 


42  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Ypocras  wende  ne  might, 

But  cleped  his  neveu,  anon  right, 

And  bad  him  wenden  to  that  lond, 

And  that  schild  take  an  hond  ; 

And,  whan  he  hadde  so  i-do, 

He  scholde  ayen  comen  him  to.  1040 

The  schild  was  set  on  a  palefrai, 

And  forht  he  tok  the  righte  way. 

And  whan  he  com  to  that  lond, 

The  king  him  tok  bi  the  hond, 

And  ladde  him  to  his  sike  childe. 

Now  Crist  of  hevene  be  ou-s  milde  ! 

The  yonge  man  segh  the  childes  peyne, 
And  tasted  his  senewe,  and  his  veyne, 
He  taketh  an  vrinal  for  to  sen  ; 
He  ne  segh  nowt  of  the  kyng,  but  of  the  quen  : 
And  of  the  child,  God  hit  wite,  105 1 

He  segh  hit  was  a  mis-beyete. 
He  gan  the  leuedi  aside  drawe. 
"  Dame,  he  saide,  be  aknawe 
What  man  had  biyete  this  child  ?" 
"  What  ?  sche  saide,  artou  wild  ? 
Who  sschulde  him  biyete  but  the  king  ?" 
"  Dame,  he  saide,  that  is  soht  no  thing  ! 
Hit  n'as  neuere  of  kinges  stren." 
"  Let,  sche  saide,  swich  wordes  ben,  1060 

Other  I  schal  do  bete  the  so, 
That  tho  schalt  neuere  ride  ne  go." 


THE  SEUYN   SAGES.  43 

u  Dame,  he  saide,  bi  swiche  tale, 

Thi  sone  schal  neuere  more  ben  hale  ; 

Ac  tal  me,  dame,  al  the  cas, 

Hou  the  child  biyeten  was." 

"  Belami,  sche  saide,  so." 

"  Parfai,  dame,  he  saide,  no  !" 

And  schok  his  heved  vpon  the  quen. 

"  Dame,  he  saide,  thai  yhe  wille  me  slen,      1070 

I  ne  mai  do  thi  sone  no  bot, 

But  yif  I  wite  the  sothe  rot, 

Of  what  man  hit  was  biyete." 

"  Maister,  sche  saide,  that  mai  no  man  wite. 

Yif  mi  conseil  were  vnhele, 

Ich  were  i-slawe  bi  righte  skele." 

"  Dame,  he  seide,  so  mot  ich  the, 

I  n'elle  nevere  biwraie  the." 

"  O  meister,  sche  seide,  so  hit  bifel  ; 

This  enderdai,  in  on  Aueril,  1080 

The  Erl  of  Naverne  com  to  this  thede, 

Wei  atij  ed,  in  riche  wede, 

With  mi  louerd  for  to  plai ; 

And  so  he  dede,  mani  a  dai. 

That  ich  erl  I  gan  to  loue, 

Al  erthliche  thing  aboue  : 

And  so,  par  gret  druri, 

I  let  that  erl  ligge  me  bi, 

And  thous  hit  was  on  me  biyete. 

A  !  leue  maister,  let  no  man  wite !"  10Q0 


i 


44  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 


a 


Nai,  dame,  for  sothe,  I  wis  ; 
But,  for  he  was  biyeten  amis, 
Hit  mot  bothe  drink  and  ete 
Contrarius  drink,  contrarius  mete, 
Beues  flesch,  and  drink  the  brotht." 
He  gaf  the  child  anon  therof. 
The  child  warisscht  fair  and  wel ; 
The  kyng  yaf  him  mani  a  juel, 
To  the  leche,  of  silver  and  goold, 
Als  mochel  als  he  nime  wold.  1 100 

"  He  wente  horn  with  that  eighte  ; 
And  Ypocras,  anon  right, 
He  asked  yif  that  the  schild  was  sound  ? 
"  Ye,  sire,  he  saide,  bi  Seint  Simond." 
He  asked,  "  What  was  his  medicine  ?" 
"  Beff  and  broth  gode  afine." 
"  What  than  was  he  an  auetrol  ?" 
"  Thou  seist  soht,  sire,  be  mi  pol." 
Quath  Ypocras,  "  Bi  the  gode  dome, 
Thou  art  bicome  al  to  wis  a  grome  !"  11 10 

Ther  he  though te,  ayen  resoun, 
To  don  him  strong  tresoun. 

"  So  bifel,  upon  a  dai, 
He  and  his  neveu  yede  to  plai, 
In  a  fair  grene  gardin, 
Therin  wex  mani  an  herbe  fin. 
On  thei  seghen  in  the  grounde, 
That  was  an  herbe  of  gret  mounde  ; 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  45 

He  tok  and  schewed  hit  Ypocras  ; 

And  he  saide  a  better  ther  was,  1 120 

For  he  walde  his  neveu  bikeche  ; 

The  child  stoupede  swich  on  to  reche. 

Ther-while,  Ypocras  with  a  knif, 

Binom  that  schild  his  swete  lif ; 

And  let  him  birie  sikerliche, 

Als  he  were  storven  sodainliche. 

i 

And  sone  ther  after,  swithe  yerne, 

He  let  alle  his  bokes  berne. 

Ac  God  Almighti,  hevene  kyng, 

He  oversegh  alle  thing.  1130 

He  sent  Ypocras,  for  his  tresoun, 

Sone  therafter,  the  menesoun. 

Wei  wist  Ypocras,  for  his  qued, 

That  he  scholde  sone  be  ded. 

For  al  that  heuer  he  mighte  do, 

His  menesoun  might  nowt  staunche  tho. 

He  let  of-sende  moche  and  lite, 

Hise  neyebours  him  to  visite, 

And  tolde  al  right  anon, 

Hou  his  deth  wa[s]  comen  him  on,  1 140 

With  gret  right  and  nowt  with  wough, 

For  his  neveu  that  he  slowgh. 

An  empti  tonne  he  let  set, 

And,  of  water  of  a  pet 

He  let  hit  fille  to  the  mouthe, 

For  he  walde  his  werkes  were  couthe. 


46  THE  SEUYN  SAGESr 

The  tresoun  he  gan  hem  alle  reherse, 

In  a  thousand  stede  he  let  the  tonne  perce, 

And  tho  he  hadde  mad  holes  so  fele, 

In  ech  he  pelt  a  dosele,  1 1.50 

And  smerede  the  holes  al  aboute. 

And  everiche  doseil  he  braid  oute, 

No  drope  of  water  vt  com  than  ; 

Mervaile  hadde  mani  a  man. 

"  Lo,  he  saide,  water  hi  can  stop, 

That  hit  ne  mai  nowt  bi  bores  drop, 

Ac  I  ne  mai  nowt  stop  mi  menesoun ; 

And  that  is  al  for  mi  tresoun, 

With  gret  right  and  nowt  with  wough, 

For  mi  neveu  that  I  slow.  1 160 

Ich  him  slow  sikerliche, 

For  he  was  wiser  man  than  iche. 

Ich,  ne  no  man  under  sonne, 

Me  gif  help  nou  ne  conne, 

But  mi  neveu  aliue  ware. 

Right  is  that  ich  hennes  fare  !" 

"  Lo,  saide  the  maister,  hou  Ypocras 
Destrued  his  lif  and  solas  ! 
Sire  emprour,  tak  hede,  and  loke, 
He  slow  his  neveu,  and  brent  his  boke  ;         1 170 
Might  hit  him  ani  thing  profite  ?" 
"  Nai,  saide  th'  cmperour,  moche  ne  lite." 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  47 

"  No,  saide  the  maister,  verrannent ; 
I  biseke  God  omnipotent, 
That  yif  thou  do  thi  sone  to  ded, 
And  hise  maistres,  be  thi  wiues  red, 
That  on  the  falle  swich  a  cas, 
As  dede  our  maister  Ypocras." 

The  maister  had  so  i-sped, 
Th'  emperour  sone  was  his  frend.  1 180 

The  maister  was  owai  i-nome, 
The  emprour  was  to  chaumbre  i-come. 
Ther  he  fond  his  emperice, 
With  louiand  chere,  and  with  nice. 
Hond  wringging,  and  loud  roupe, 
And  here  visage  al  biwope. 
"  Dame,  he  saide,  pluk  up  thi  cher, 
Other  tel  me  whi  thou  makest  swich  cher." 
"  Sire,  sche  saide,  hit  is  wonder  non, 
Hi  se  thi  honour  all  i-gon.  ]  190 

I  se  the  wede  waxe  over  the  corn ; 
Alias  !  alias,  that  I  was  boren, 
And  that  I  schal  this  dai  i-se, 
That  we  sschulle  departed  be !" 
"  What,  dame,  is  hit  comen  therto, 
We  sscholle  be  departed  so  ?" 
"  Ye,  sire,  bi  Adam  and  bi  Eue, 
For  thou  n'elt  novvt  me  i-leue 
Of  him  that  thou  clepest  thi  sone. 
Certes,  he  had  the  deueles  wone  !  1200 


48  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

He  the  procureth,  night  and  dai, 

Al  the  sschame  that  he  mai. 

Thine  barouns  and  thine  gentilmen, 

Alle  thai  holden  the  ayen. 

Thai  sschal  wel  sone,  for  inche  an  hete, 

Put  th£  out  of  thi  kinges  sete, 

And  sette  him  stede  inne  thine ; 

That  ware  mi  deth  and  mi  pine. 

Ich  hadde  leuere  to  ben  an-honge, 

Than  that  I  scholde  Hue  so  longe." — -  1210 

(A  !  hou  wimmen  conne  hit  make, 

Whan  thai  wil  ani  man  lake  !) — 

"  Ac,  sire,  yif  hit  falle  so, 

That  th'  empire  is  dight  him  to, 

On  the  falle  swich  a  cas, 

As  dede  on  him,  that  his  heued  was 

...  tf 

Of  his  sone  l-cast  in  a  gong, 

With  felonie,  and  with  wrong  ! 

u  O  dame,  who  might  that  be 

Wolde  do  his  fader  swich  vilt6  ?  1220 

Tel  hit  me,  for  God  aboue !" 

"  Lat  be,  sire,  for  mi  loue, 

Thou  ne  louest  nowt  of  mi  telling  ; 

Hit  schal  the  rewe  bi  heuene  kyng  !" 

"  Yis,  dame,  he  saide,  lat  here  the  speke, 

And  ich  wil  sone  the  awreke. 

Sei  on  dame  !"  and  sche  bigan 

To  tellen  als  a  fals  wimman. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  49 


THE  V.  TALE. 

THE  FATHER  MURDERED  BY  HIS  SON. 

A  emperour  was  in  thes  town, 
A  riche  man,  of  gret  renoun,  1230 

Octouien  was  his  name  : 
Wide  sprong  his  riche  fame. 
Gold  and  siluer  to  wille  he  wan  ; 
And  more  he  hadde  than  ani  man. 
He  made  Cressent,  that  riche  tour, 
Therinne  he  pult  his  tresdr. 
Seue  wise  men  ther  were  in  Rome, 
The  fiue  out  of  londe  he  nome, 
And  the  twaie  left  at  home, 
To  kepe  Rome  with  rightful  dome.  1240 

That  on  was  bothe  curteis  an  hende, 
Lef  to  give,  and  lef  to  spende  ; 
And  that  other  lef  to  pinche, 
Bothe  he  was  scars,  and  chinche. 
And,  als  we  nnden  writen  in  boke, 
Th'  emperour  him  taught  his  tresor  to  loke, 
And  he  hit  kept  bi  al  his  might, 
Bothe  bi  daies  an  bi  night. 
For  the  wretche  man,  saun-fail, 
Wende  the  erthe  scholde  him  fail !  1250 

VOL.  III.  D 


50  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

The  large  wise  wiste  wel, 

Of  this  tresor  eche  a  del. 

He  saide  to  his  sone,  "  Tak  a  pike, 

To-night  thou  schalt  with  me  strike." 

,"  Whider  ?"  seide  his  sone  ; 

"  Therof  haue  thou  no  thing  to  done ! 

Arise  vp  quik,  and  with  me  go, 

And  do  als  ton  sest  me  do." 

For[th]  thai  went,  withoute  sojour, 

To  Cressent  that  riche  tour.  1260 

An  hole  thai  bregen,  al  with  ginne, 

And  bothe  thai  wenten  therinne, 

And  token  tresor,  I  you  swere, 

Als  the  moche  als  thai  might  bere, 

And  beren  hit  horn  wel  on  hast, 

And  maden  hem  large  whiles  hit  last. 

Amorewe  aros  that  sinatcur, 

And  sichen  to-bregen  his  louerdes  tour, 

And  beren  was  awai  that  tresour ; 

Therfore  he  made  gret  dolour.  1270 

He  ne  made  no  pleint  to  no  man, 

But  stopped  the  hole  anon  ayen, 

For  he  thouwte  wel  that  hit  left, 

Wolde  come  ayen  eft : 

For  thef  of  steling  wil  nowt  blinne 

Til  he  honge  bi  the  chinne. 

Nigh  euene  bi  the  hole, 

Ther  the  catel  was  i-stole, 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  51 

The  wise  man  dede  make  a  dich, 

Ful  of  lim  and  of  pich,  1280 

That  yif  he  agen  wald  come, 

That  the  traitour  sscholde  bi  nome. 

The  stolen  catel  i-spended  is  ; 

The  wise  bicometh  a  fol,  I  wis. 

"  He  tok  his  sone ;  ayen,  he  went 
To  that  tour  that  hight  Cressent. 
An  hole  thay  broken  al  biscore  ; 
The  fader  lep  in  bifore, 
Into  the  limed  diche : 

Loude  he  gan  to  crie  and  skriche,  1290 

And  saide,  "  Sone,  com  her  thou  nowt, 
For  ich  ham  nomen  and  bicaught !" 
"  Hou  so,  fader  ?  ich  wil  fechche  help  P 
"  Nai,  sone,  mak  therof  no  yelp. 
Her  ne  geth  help  ne  red  ; 
For  sikerliche  ich  am  ded." 
"  A !  leve  fader,  what  schal  I  do  ?" 
M  Sone,  with  thin  hond  thi  swerd  tak  to, 
And  hastiliche  gird  of  min  heiied." 
"  Nai  !  arst  mi  lif  scholde  me  bi  bireved,     1300 
Ar  ich  mi  fader  scholde  sle !" 
"  Sikerliche,  sone,  hit  mot  so  be  ; 
Other  ich,  and  tou,  and  alle  mine, 
Beth  i-schent  withouten  fine. 
Bettere  hit  is  that  ich  on  passe, 
Than  al  mi  ken,  more  and  lasse  ! 


59.  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Smit  of  min  heved  with  thi  sword  ; 

Schalt  tou  neuer  here  therof  no  word. 

Hit  ginneth  to  dawe ;  highe  the  henne  ! 

Foryiue  I  the  al  that  sinne."  1310 

His  fader  heued  he  smot  of  thare, 

And  awai  with  him  hit  bare. 

Ac  he  ne  wiste,  for  non  nede, 

Whar  he  mighte  hit  best  i-hede. 

But  als  he  com  bi  a  gong, 

Amidde  the  pit  he  hit  slong, 

And  wente  horn,  and  made  wo  ; 

His  brethren  and  his  sustren  also. 

Amorewe  aros  that  sinatour, 

And  segh  to-broken  his  louerdes  tour,  1320 

And  segh  ther  stonde  an  heuedles  man  ; 

Knowe  him  nowt  he  ne  can. 

He  loked  bifore  and  bihinde, 

Knowleching  ne  couthe  he  finde. 

He  let  him  drawe  out  of  the  pit, 

And  his  fet  set  faste  i-knit, 

With  trais  an  two  stronge  hors, 

And  hete  to  Rome  drawen  his  cors  ; 

And  yif  ani  weped,  other  cride, 

He  het  him  nime  that  ilche  tide.  1S30 

"  Quicliche  breng  him  me  bifore, 

For  of  that  kyn  he  was  i-bore." 

The  heuedles  bodi,  also  skete, 

Was  i-drawe  thourgh  eueri  strete. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  53 

Fort  he  come  ayen  the  paleis, 
That  aughte  the  ded  burgeis, 
There  was  cri,  and  wail-a-wo, 
Of  brother  and  of  suster  also. 

"  The  sone,  that  wiste  of  al  that  dede, 
Stirt  him  in,  in  gret  drede  ;  1340 

He  braid  out  his  knif  on  heghth, 
And  smot  himselve  thourghhout  the  thegth. 
The  kinges  seriaunt  faste  hide, 
To  nime  that  folk  that  faste  cride  ; 
Thai  schewed  i-wonded  here  brother, 
Thai  seide  thai  wepte  for  non  other. 
Thai  seghen  all  the  wonded  man, 
And  leued  hem  wel,  and  went  oyan." 

"  Lo,  sire,  swich  a  foul  wille, 
Ayen  resoun  and  right  skille  !  1350 

Was  nowt  the  boi  of  wit  bereued, 
Whan  he  tok  his  fader  heued, 
In  a  vil  gonge  slong  hit  inne  ? 
He  mighft]  han  don  a  better  ginne ; 
I-biried  hit  ower  priueliche." 
"  Thou  saist  soth,  dame,  sikerliche  ; 
An  unkynde  boi  hit  was  ! " 
"  Ya  !  on  ihi  heved  falle  that  cas  ! 
Thi  sone,  the  deuel  him  mote  an-honge> 
But  he  cast  thin  heved  in  a  gonge."  1360 


54  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

i 

"  Dame,  I  schal  yeme  me  fram  care ; 
Certes,  to-morewe  he  schal  forht  fare." 
"  Sire,  I  leue  the  nowt,  sikerliche." 
"  Yis,  dame,  hardiliche  !" 
u  Graunt  merci,  sche  saide,  sire  gent ;" 
An  kist  him  to  acordement ; 
And  let  here  word  swiche  sone, 
And  yede  to  bedde  mididone. 

Dioclician,  th'  emperour, 
Amorewe  wente  out  of  his  tour,  1370 

And  let  of-sende  his  gentil  knaue  ; 
No  man  ne  most  him  saue  ; 
And  het  him  led  forht  sikerklik, 
And  bidelue  him  also  quik, 
That  he  neuer,  for  no  thing, 
Herde  of  him  more  tiding. 
He  was  forht  lad  with  boies  felle. 
The  burgeis,  and  the  dammeisele, 
Thai  gunne  arere  swich  a  cri, 
That  hit  schillede  into  the  ski ;  1380 

And  saide,  "  Wail-awai !  whi,  with  wronge, 
Schal  th'  emperour's  sone  ben  an-honge  ?" 

Than  com  ridende  Lentilioun, 
A  wis  maister  and  of  fair  fazoun ; 
The  childes  thridde  maister  hadde  i-ben; 
For  reuthe  he  ne  might  him  nowt  i-sen. 
And  th'  emperour  wel  sone  he  fond  : 
He  gret  him  faire,  ich  understond. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  55 

TV  emperour  saide,  "  So  God  me  spede, 

Traitour,  the  schal  be  quit  thi  mede!  1390 

For  mi  sones  mislering, 

Ye  schulle  habbe  evil  ending  !" 

w  O  sire  emperour  of  pi  is, 

In  dedes  thou  sscholdest  be  war  and  wis. 

Yif  thou  wilt  thi  sone  sschende, 

Withouten  assent  of  barouns  hende, 

And  dost  vs  qued  for  oure  godnesse, 

On  the  falle  swich  a  destresse, 

So  dede  on  the  riche  gome, 

That  with  his  wif  was  ouercome  I"  1400 

"  O  tel  me,  maister,  hou  ani  wimman 

Mighte  bigile  ani  man  ? " 

"  Bletheliche,  sire,  so  God  me  amende, 

Yif  thou  wilt  thi  sone  of-sende  : 

For,  yif  he  were  therwiles  i-slawe, 

For  nowt  I  telde  the;  mi  tale." 

The  riche  emperour,  also  sket, 

His  sone  ay  en  fechche  he  het. 

The  child  was  don  the  prisoun  in  : 

The  maister  his  tale  he  gan  agin.  1410 


56  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 


THE  VI.  TALE. 

THE  HUSBANDE  SHUT  OUT. 

"  Ther  was  a  burgeis  in  this  touti, 
A  riche  man  of  gret  renoun, 
That  wolde  spouse  no  nethebours  schild, 
But  wente  fram  horn  as  a  moppe  wild. 
He  let  his  negheboures  child  for  a  vice, 
And  wente  fram  hem  als  moppe  and  nice, 
And  browghte  horn  a  dammaisele, 
Was  ful  of  vices  swich  fele. 
He  seghth  hir  fair  and  auenaunt, 
And  with  here  fader  made  couenant,  1420 

For  to  habben  hire  to  wiue, 
And  euere  more  to  righte  Hue. 
He  spoused  hire,  and  ladde  hire  hom. 
Hire  forme  lemman  hire  after  com, 
That  hire  serued  mani  a  stounde, 
Whan  on  slepe  was  the  [hus]bounde. 
Than  was  the  lawe  in  Rome  toun, 
That,  whether  lord  or  garsoun, 
That  after  corfu  bi  founde  rominde, 
Faste  men  scholden  hem  nimen  and  binde,     1430 
And  kepen  him  til  the  sonne  vprising, 
And  than  before  the  fokk  him  bring, 


THE  SETJYN  SAGES.  57 

And  thourgh  the  toun  him  villiche  driue. 

The  burgeis  aparseiued  of  his  wiue, 

Fele  nightes  was.  gon  him  fram, 

And  in  the  dawiying  ayen  sche  cam. 

He  saide  nowt,  wel  longe  while, 

But  euer  he  souchede  him  of  gile. 

O  night,  he  him  ase  dronke  made, 

And  yede  to  bedde  blithe  and  glade,  1440 

And  lai  stille  als  he  slepe  sone. 

Sche  stal  awai,  mididone, 

And  wente  to  here  lotebi ; 

And  he  hit  aparseiued  sikerli, 

And  went  him  out,  and  segh  an  herd, 

Al  togider  hou  sche  misferd, 

And  wente  him  in  out  of  the  strete, 

And  schet  the  dore  swithe  skete, 

And  spak  out  ate  windowe, 

And  saide,  "  Dame,  God  yive  the  howe  !      1450 

This  thou  ne  might  forsake  for  non  nede, 

Ich  have  i-nome  the  in  this  dede. 

With  thi  lechour,  with  him  thou  go ! 

Of  the  ne  kep  I  neuere  mo." 

"  A  !  lat  me  in,  sire,  paramour  ! 

Men  sschal  sone  ringe  corfour." 

"  Nai,  dame,  ich  the  forsake  ; 

In  thi  foli  thou  worst  i-take. 

Al  thi  ken  schal  witen  and  sen, 

What  mester  woman  thou  hauest  i-ben.',        1460 


58  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

"  Nai,  God  Almighti  that  i-sschilde, 

Ich  wille  bicome  wod  and  wilde. 

But  tbou  me  in  lete,  ich  wille  telle, 

Ich  wille  me  drenchen  in  the  welle." 

"  Drenche  thiselue  other  an-honge, 

For  here  thou  havest  liued  to  longe ! " 

She  tok  up  a  gret  ston, 

And  wente  to  the  welle  anon, 

And  saide,  after  a  wommannes  wrenche, 

"  Her  now,  sire,  I  schal  me  adrenche"  1470 

Sche  let  the  ston  falle  in  the  welle, 

And  sterte  under  the  dore  wel  snelle. 

The  seli  man  bigan  to  grede, 

"  Alias,  wat  schal  me  to-rede  ! " 

Anon  rightes  he  wente  him  owt, 

And  sough te  his  wif  in  the  welle  about, 

And  s withe  loude  he  bigan  to  crie ; 

And  sche  stert  in,  wel  an  highe, 

And  sschitte  the  dore  swiche  fast ; 

And  he  gan  up  his  heued  cast.  148(* 

"  What,  he  saide,  who  is  thare  ?" 

"  Ich,  sche  saide,  God  yiue  [the]  kare ! 

Is  hit  nou  time,  bi  thi  snoute, 

For  to  ben  thous  longe  ther  oute  ?" 

"  A  !  dame,  he  saide,  ich  was  asschreint, 

Ich  wende  thou  haddest  ben  adreint. 

Lat  me  in,  dame,  par  amour, 

Men  schal  sone  ringe  corfour." 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  59 

"  The  deuel  hong  me  thanne  bi  the  toth  ! 

The  waites  scholle  wel  se  the  soth,  1490 

That  thou  art  an  hold  lechour, 

And  comest  horn  after  corfour. 

Thou  schalt  suffre  kare  and  howe, 

And  drinke  that  thou  hast  i-browe." 

With  that  the  waites  come  ride, 

And  hi  herden  hou  thai  gon  schide, 

And  corfour  belle  ringge  gan. 

I-nomen  was  that  seli  man, 

And  neuer  of  him  no  qued  ne  herde ; 

Thai  wist  ful  wel  hou  hit  ferde.  1500 

Thai  beden  his  wif,  as  sche  was  hende, 

Leten  him  [in]  ar  corfu  ende. 

Sche  answered,  as  malicious, 

"He  cometh  nou  fram  the  hore-hous  ! 

Thous  he  is  wonet  me  to  serue  : 

On  euele  dethe  mot  he  sterue  ! 

Ich  haue  i-hid  his  schame  er  this, 

I  n'el  nammore  nou,  I  wis." 

Corfour  belle  no  lenger  rong  ; 

The  burgeis  was  lad  forht  with  wrong.  1510 

What  helpeth  hit  lenger  tale  ? 

That  night  he  sat  wel  sore  akale, 

And  his  wif  lai  warme  abedde, 

And  solas  of  hire  lemman  fredde. 

Amorewe  the  burgeis  was  forth  i-fet. 

And  his  honden  biforen  him  knet, 


60  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  thourgh  the  toun  he  was  i-lad, 

Lohtliche  driuen  and  bigrad, 

Ase  a  thef.     This  meschaunce, 

Gelteles  he  sufFred  this  pennaunce.  1520 

"  Sire,  couthe  this  woman  of  gile  ?" 
"  Ya  !  sche  was  a  traitour  vile, 
And  wel  werse  than  an  hound !" 
"  Sire,  mo  swich  ther  beth  i-found  ; 
And  thiself  had  on  swich  ! 
Sche  wil  the  traie  sikerlich, 
Yif  thou  dost  after  her  red, 
That  thou  dost  thi  sone  to  ded. 
That  chaunce  falle  the  i-liche, 
That  bifel  the  burgeis  riche."  1530 

"  Parfai,  maister,  that  ware  god  right ; 
I  n'el  nowt  do  bi  here  to-night." 
The  child  bileft  stille  in  prisoun, 
The  maister  went  out  of  the  toun, 
And  hadde  mani  a  blessing, 
For  his  disciple  deliuering. 

Whan  men  leke  windowe  and  gate, 
Th'  cmperour  com  to  chaumbre  late. 
The  emperice  bigan  to  loure 
Lohtliche  on  th'  emperoure.  1540 

"  Dame,  he  saide,  what  haileth  the, 
Swich  semblannt  for  to  make  me?" 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  6l 

"  Yit  schal  hit  falle  ous  so  bitwene 

That  mani  a  man  hit  sschal  hit  sene, 

As  bitwene  the  leuedi  and  the  stiward, 

And  the  king  in  o  fore  ward." 

"  What  forward  was  that  ?     Telle  hit  me, 

As  thou  wilt  to  me  lef  be." 

"  Nai,  sire,  sche  saide,  hit  n'is  nowt  worth  ; 

Mi  tale  ne  mot  nowt  forth.  1550 

Telle  ich  the  ensaumple  neuer  so  god, 

Thou  me  haldest  of  wit  wod. 

Therfore  ich  wille  holde  me  stille, 

And  suffri  wel  that  man  the  spille." 

"  Nai,  dame,  lat  here  the  speke, 

And  ich  the  wille  ful  wel  awreke, 

So  ich  hit  finde  profitable, 

And  soth  I  seie,  withouten  fable." 


THE  VII.  TALE. 

THE  K1NGE  AND  HIS  STIWART). 

"  Now  ben  sene,  sire,  and  i-here! 
A  king  was  whilom  of  gret  powere  j  1560 


62  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 

Al  Poile  and  Calabre  lond, 

Al  he  held  hit  in  his  hond. 

Wimmen  he  louede  swithe  lite, 

And  usede  sinne  sodomighte. 

So  long  he  pleiede  with  yong  man, 

A  swele  in  his  membres  cam  than. 

The  skin  might  hit  nowt  helde, 

Ne  he  ne  mighte  himselue  welde. 

He  fil  sik  in  Godes  wreche  ; 

He  let  of-senden  him  a  leche.  1570 

In  vrine  he  segh  he  mighte  libbe ; 

He  laide  a  piastre  under  his  ribbe. 

Barli-bred  he  et  for  gode, 

And  barli-water,  that  was  i-sode, 

Til  he  hadde  of  his  membres  bote. 

Than  saide  the  leche,  ar  ye  mote 

Haue  womman  to  pleie  aright, 

Yif  ye  wil  be  hoi  aplight." 

"  I  schal  wel  ;"  and  cleped  his  stiward, 

And  he  com  als  a  leopard.  1580 

"  Lo  me  her,  sire,  what  will  ye  ?" 

"  But  a  lemman  fech  thou  me, 

That  I  might  to-night  with  plai !" 

"  I  ne  wot  non,  sire,  in  this  contrai, 

That  be  thi  bodi  ligge  dar, 

For  thi  los  is  boren  so  far, 

That  thine  membres  ben  to-swolle." 

"  Bihote  hem  pans  an  handfolle. 


THE  SEX3YN  SAGES.  63 

Bihot  twenti  mark  som  leuedi 

O  night  for  to  ligge  me  bi."  1590 

Thanne  thout  that  stiward  coueitous, 

That  siluer  schal  bileue  with  ous. 

To  his  wif  he  went  anon, 

And  saide  sche  most  on  his  arnede  gon. 

"  Blethliche,  sire,  ac  whidewai  d  ?" 

"  To  the  king,  saide  the  stiward  ; 

Thou  schalt  plaie  with  him  in  derk, 

And  winne  ous  gode  twenti  mark." 

"  A  !  sire,  sche  saide,  fi !  fi ! 

Hit  is  a  foul  man  to  liggen  bi ;  1600 

And  that  wot  euerich  womman  wel." 

"  Thou  schalt,  bi  Seint  Michel ! 

Who  that  seluer  winne  n'elle, 

L.ese  he  mot  with  right  skille. 

Thou  schalt  ous  the  penies  winne, 

Other  1  the  sschal  driue  out  of  min  inne." 

"  O  nedes  he  sschal,  that  nedes  mot ; 

Hit  n'is  nowt  mi  wille,  God  hit  wot, 

But  hit  is  skil,  right  and  lawe, 

To  do  bi  me  as  bi  thin  awe."  16 10 

To  the  kinges  chaumbre  he  went  ayain, 

And  drof  out  bothe  knight  and  swayn, 

Blewe  out  the  torches,  and  let  in  his  wif. 

To  the  king  sche  wente  bilif. 

The  fals  stiward  to  bedde  wente. 

The  king  the  leuedi  in  armes  hent. 


64  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

What  helpeth  hit  ani  more  seid  ? 

That  night  he  was  ful  wel  apaid. 

The  wretche  stiward  ne  might  nowt  slape  ; 

Ac  in  the  moreweing  he  gan  u[p]rape.  1620 

To  the  kingges  chaumbre  he  went  saun  fail ; 

The  king,  that  night,  hadde  ben  in  trauail, 

In  trewe  loue  witouten  arm, 

And  slep  in  the  leuedis  arm. 

The  stiward  made  moche  sorewe, 

Til  hit  were  half  wai  midmorewe  ; 

He  held  himself  mochel  wrechche. 

Thons  [he]  the  king  bigan  to  wechche, 

And  saide,  "  Sire,  vp  !  vp  !  hit  is  dai  1 

Lat  that  leuedi  wende  awai !"  1630 

The  king  saide,  "  I  ne  have  no  rape, 

For  me  lest  yit  ful  wel  slape, 

And  pleie  twies  anc|  ones, 

For  to  hele  mine  bones." 

"  Nai,  sire,  hit  is  mi  leuedi, 

That  al  night  laien  the  bi." 

"  Belamy,  he  saide,  is  hit  thi  wif  ?" 

"  Yea,  sire,  he  saide,  be  mi  lif !" 

"  O  traitour  !  figh,  a  puteyn  ! 

Whi  had  thi  wif  bi  me  lain  ?"  1640 

"  Sire,  for  the  winning  of  thi  moiie." 

u  Therfore,  he  saide,  yvel  mote  thou  the  ! 

Thou  hast  bitraid  thi  wif  and  me. 

Dweile  thou,  wil  ich  arisen  be, 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  65 

I  schal  thi  vile  fals  cors 

Do  to-drawe  with  wilde  hors. 

Out  of  mi  lond  I  rede  thou  flee, 

That  I  the  never  eft  i-see  ; 

For,  abide  thou  min  uprist, 

Thou  be  honged  bi  Jesu  Crist !"  1650 

Sire,  thous  the  stiward  les  his  wif, 

And  fley  awai  with  mochel  strif. 

I  wis  he  was  al  forlore, 

He  com  ay  em  neuere  more. 

"  The  king  aros  whan  him  list, 
And  kep  the  leuedi  with  the  best ; 
And  held  hire,  two  yer,  other  thre, 
And  sithen  yaf  hire,  with  riche  fe, 
To  a  riche  erl  of  that  lond. 
Sche  was  nowt  bicaught,  ich  understond  :      166(> 

u  Sire,  and  so  wil  hit  fare  bi  you, 
Whan  ye  han  loren  youre  vertu. 
Out  of  londe  thou  best  i-driue, 
Schal  ich  the  neuere  i-se  til  I  Hue. 
No  forse  on  me  after  an  empefour 
Mai  me  wedde  a  vauasour. 
I  mai  Hue  a  wel  god  lif, 
Thai  I  be  nowt  an  emperour's  wif. 
Ac  [the]  falle  chaunce  ase  hard, 
As  dede  the  couaitous  stiward,  1 670 

VOL.  III.  E 


QQ  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

That  solde  his  wif  for  mon6  ; 
But  thou  do  als  I  rede  the." 
"  Par  fai,  dame,  that  is  skil, 
I  wil  do  bi  the,  yif  God  wil." 
"  Sire,  sche  saide,  withouten  faile, 
Thou  dost  bi  a  god  counseil." 

Morewe  cam,  as  ye  mowe  here  ; 
The  emperour  aros,  with  foule  chere, 
Into  his  palais  he  went  yare, 
And  his  barouns  he  fond  thare.  l68° 

Biforen  hem  alle,  in  gret  traye, 
He  het  mani  a  wikke  boye 
His  sone  toward  the  dethe  bringge  : 
Hit  was  i-do  withouten  letting. 
Toward  deth  he  was  i-brout ; 
Mani  a;  man  hit  of-thout, 
Thourgh  Rome  stretes,  wide  and  side. 
The  ferthe  maister  ther  com  ride  ; 
Malquidras  was  his  name  ; 

In  his  herte  was  no  game.  ™9° 

His  disciple  louted  him  to  ; 
The  maistres  hert  brast  negh  for  wo  ! 
He  went  into  the  halle  flet ; 
The  emperour  wel  faire  he  gret. 
Th'  emperour  him  missaide  than. 
«  Merci,  sire,  saide  the  wise  man. 
Sire,  what  haue  we  the  misgelt  ? 
Oure  gode  dede  schal  ben  iuel  i-yelt  1" 

8 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  67 

"Sire,  quath  th'  emperour,  be  min  hed, 

Worthi  art  to  suffii  ded,  17oo 

For  to  the,  and  thine  hrey 

I  bitok  mi  sone  to  lere 

For  to  han  i-taught  him  god, 

And  ye  han  i-made  him  wod  I 

Miwifhewoldehaueforlai, 

Therfore  ye  sschuJIe  a]  dai." 

"  O,  sire  emperour  of  pris, 

In  dedes  thou  sscholdest  ben  war  and  wis  ! 

i  if  thou  wilt  thi  sone  slo, 

Withouten  assent  of  barons  mo,  mo 

And  for  oure  godnesse  do  us  qued, 

Swich  a  cas  fal  on  thin  heued, 

As  hadde  the  olde  wise  of  his  wiue, 

Er  thou  parte  out  of  this  liue." 

u  O  maister,  that  was  wel  i-said ; 

Hou  was  that  olde  man  i-traid  ?" 

|  He  was  nowt  bitraid,  for  he  wis  was." 

^  A !  leue  maister,  tel  me  the  cas." 

*  Blethliche,  withouten  strif, 

So  thou  respite  thi  sones  lif,  mo 

Til  to-morewe  that  hit  be  dai ; 

Than  I  the  schal  the  tale  sai."' 

Th'  emperour  Dioclician 

His  sone  ayen  hight  fechche  than, 

And  into  prisoun  he  was  i-cast ; 

The  maister  ginneth  his  tale  in  hast. 


68  THE  SEXJYN   SAGES. 

THE  VIII.  TALE. 

THE  OLD  WISE  MAN  AND  HIS  WIFE. 

"Whilom  was  a  man  old  [and]  wis, 
And  hadde  inow  of  worldes  pris. 
In  his  youthe,  in  middel  of  his  liue, 
He  hadde  i-wedded  two  jolif  wives ;  1730 

He  liuede  and  bothe  hem  overbod, 
And  was  longe  in  his  wideuhod. 
He  liuede  so  longe  that  he  hor  was, 
And  hadde  of  womman  no  solas. 
His  seriaunts  ofte  to  him  come, 
And  of  alangenes  him  undernome, 
And  [bade]  him  take  a  wif  jolif, 
To  solace  with  his  olde  lif. 
Bi  her  rede  he  tok  a  yong  womman, 
Ase  wone  is  of  old  man  l~40 

Yong  womman  for  [to]  spouse, 
And  thanne  be  wraw  and  gelouse. 
Litel  thai  mai  do,  withouten  gabbe, 
That  yong  womman  wolde  habbe. 
Al  so  ferde  that  olde  wise  ; 
He  dede  his  wif  wel  smal  seruise. 
The  yonge  wif,  upon  a  dai, 
Com  to  chiiche,  par  mafai, 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  69 

And  fond  hire  moder  thare, 

And  tolde  hire  al  of  here  kare.  1750 

And  saide,  "  Moder,  I  tholie  a  cas, 

Mi  louerd  doth  me  no  solas  : 

Ich  moste  have  som  other  loue  !" 

"  Nai,  dowter,  for  God  above ! 

Old  men  ben  felle  and  queinte, 

And  wikkede  wrenches  conne  ateinte. 

Misdo  nowt,  doughter,  but  do  bi  rede  P 

"  Lat  ben,  moder,  for  hit  is  nede." 

"  Doughter,  thi  louerd  had  o  gardin, 

A  wel  fair  ympe  is  tharin  ;  1760 

A  fair  herbeth  hit  ouer-spredeth, 

Al  his  solas  therinne  he  ledeth. 

Nou  ne  bereth  hit  lef  non, 

And  whan  thi  louerd  is  out  i-gon, 

Doughter,  tak  thi  gardiner, 

And  lat  hit  hewe  to  the  fer  ; 

And,  yif  he  say  to  the  ani  resoun, 

Answere  hit  with  this  enchesoun, 

That  thou  dest  hit  is,  for  the  nones, 

To  warme  bi  his  colde  bones."  1770 

"  Dame,  sche  saide,  hit  schal  ben  dou." 

Horn  sche  wente  swithe  anon, 

And  al  maugre  the  gardiner, 

The  ympe  was  hewe  to  the  fer. 

The  gode  burgeis  was  horn  i-come, 

And  goth  to  his  gardin,  as  was  his  wone, 


70  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  fond  his  ympe  up  i-hewe. 

"  O,  thoughte  he,  her  was  a  sscherewe !" 

Sche  saide  sche  dede  hit  for  non  arm, 

But  for  he  sscholde  his  bones  warm.  1780 

He  hit  tok  on  iuel  strong, 

But  he  ne  monede  hit  nowt  long. 

He  wentte  to  bedde,  and  tok  solas 

That  night,  neuer  the  better  hir  n'as. 

"  The  yonge  wif,  another  dai, 
To  chirche  tok  the  righte  wai, 
And  fond  eft  hire  moder  thare, 
And  of  blisse  sche  was  al  bare  ; 
For,  neither  be  night  no  be  dai, 
Hire  louerd  n'olde  with  hire  plai.  1790 

U  Ich  mot  louie,  sche  saide,  dame !" 
"  O  doughter,  hit  were  gret  sschame, 
Yif  thou  sscholdest  thi  gode  kinde, 
Thourgh  dede  of  vilainie,  schende. 
For,  yif  thou  dost  a  folie, 
Thi  louerd  hit  wil  sone  espie, 
And  he  him  wolde  fellich  awreke. 
Herkne  doughter  what  I  schal  speke  : 
A  grai  bichche  thi  louer  ginneth  louie, 
Ouer  alle  other  bestes  aboue  ;  1800 

And  whan  ye  sit  bi  the  glede, 
And  the  bichche  lith  in  thi  grede, 
Mak  the  wroth,  and  draw  thi  knif, 
And  binim  the  bichche  here  lif ; 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  71 

And  loke  thou  be  therafter  queynt, 

And  were  th£  with  a  wiues  pleint." 

The  yonge  saide  hit  scholde  be  so ; 

Horn  ssche  gan  hire  wai  to  go. 

Was  hit  nowt  longe  afterwar[d], 

The  yonge  leuedi  and  hire  lord  1810 

Sete,  an  even,  bi  the  fer ; 

Biforen  hem  stod  here  squier. 

Sche  hadde  on  a  pilche  of  pris, 

And  a  chaisel  theron,  I  wis  ; 

The  bichche  lai  in  hire  barm  : 

Sche  plaide,  and  hit  dede  here  harm. 

Sche  drow  a  knif,  and  here  smot. 

The  bichche  daide,  God  hit  wot, 

And  pilche  and  cheisel  al  bi-bled ; 

The  lord  ros,  and  yede  to  bed,  1820 

For  al  hire  wrenche,  and  al  here  ginne, 

The  more  loue  sche  ne  might  awinne. 
The  thridde  time  to  scherche  sche  went, 

And  hire  moder  ther  sche  tint, 

And  saide,  "  Dame,  for  al  thi  lore, 

I  finde  loue  neuere  the  more  ! 

Moder,  ich  mot  louie  algat." 

"  Doughter,  ich  rede  that  thou  lat ! 

Ac,  tel  me,  doughter,  for  God  aboue, 

What  man  hastou  tnent  to  loue  ?"  1830 

"  Dame,  sche  saide,  the  prest,  bi  skil." 

"  Nai,  doughter,  yif  God  wil, 


72  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

While  thou  might  have  squier  or  knight!" 

"  Nai,  moder,  mi  trewthe  I  plight, 

I  n'elle  come  in  no  knightes  bedde ; 

He  hit  wile  make  wide  i-kedde : 

And  I  the  saie,  sikerliche, 

The  prest  I  mai  loue  priueliche." 

"  Nai,  dough  ter,  her  a  queinte  ginne  ; 

T!ii  louerdes  lone  hou  [thou]  schalt  winne.    1840 

Thi  louerd  schal  sone  make  a  fest 

Of  riche  men,  and  honest. 

Thou  schalt  be  bisaie,  that  ilke  dai ; 

Honge  at  the  gerdel  mani  a  kai, 

And  sette  the  haiest  ate  bord, 

In  a  chaier  ayen  thi  lord. 

Thi  kai  in  the  cloth  make  thou  fast ; 

After,  stirt  up  on  hast, 

Thai  thou  felle  coppe  other  cloth ; 

Go  forth  and  strif  nowt  therof :  1850 

And  than  thou  schalt  sone  i-se 

What  therof  wil  be." 

The  yonge  wif  to  hire  moder  said, 

"  Hit  sschal  be  don,  bi  Marie  maid ! 

And  wite  I  sschal,  moder,  bi  than, 

Yif  he  wil  plaie,  that  old  man." 

Wei  sone  therafter,  sikerli, 

The  olde  knight  and  t[h]e  leuedi, 

A  wel  fair  feste  thai  made  thare, 

O  frendes  that  hem  leue  ware.  1 860 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  73 

Sire,  what  helpeth  hit  longe  tale  ? 

The  wif  seruede  of  bred  and  ale, 

And  after  set  hire  adoun  sone. 

The  kai  made  moche  to  done, 

For  sche  feld  both  cloth  and  cop ; 

Natheles  thai  ware  gadered  vp. 

Swithe  sore  sche  him  atraid  ; 

Certes,  he  was  wel  iuel  i-paid  ! 

Whanne  the  gestes  weren  at  ais, 

Thai  wenten  horn  fram  his  paleis,  1870 

Morewe  com  ;  ac  now  i-here ! 

The  louerd  let  make  a  gret  fere, 

And  let  of-sende  a  neyghebour, 

Ich  understonde,  a  god  barbour, 

And  set  his  wif  forth,  fot-hot, 

And  hire  misdedes  hire  atwot ; 

And  saide,  he  moste  chasti  hire  ginne, 

For  iuel  blod  was  hire  withinne  ; 

Hit  moste  be  quik  i-laten  out, 

That  ssche  ne  helde  hire  nowt  so  stout.  1880 

Wer  here  lef,  were  hire  loth, 

Of  hire  he  spoiled  euerich  cloth. 

Tho  hire  kertel  was  of  i-drawe, 

Tho  wende  sche  wel  to  ben  i-slawe ; 

An  saide  sche  sscholde  die  also  swithe, 

For  sche  never  lat  blod  in  hire  live. 

Therof  ne  stod  him  non  owe  ; 

He  rent  hir  smok  to  the  elbowe, 


74  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  sithen  set  hire  on  a  stol, 

For  he  ne  wolde  nowt  ssche  were  a  fol.  1890 

And  gan  to  smiten  hire  on  the  veyn, 

And  sche  bledde,  with  gret  meyn, 

Grete  disch-folles  two. 

Als  swithe  here  arm  was  staunched  tho, 

He  dede  that  other  arm  forht  drawe. 

Than  wende  sscho  wel  to  ben  i-slawe, 

And  loude  ssche  gan  to  wepe  and  crie. — 

"  H  it  helpeth  the  nowt  be  Seinte  Marie  !" — 

The  barbour  in  the  veyne  hire  smot ; 

Sche  bledde  wel  til  sche  was  hot  1900 

The  thridde  disse-ful  vpright ; 

Anon  sche  les  colour  and  might. 

The  louerd  hit  seghth,  and  dede  hire  staunche, 

And  in  a  bed  he  dede  hire  launche, 

And  saide,  "  Thries  thou  breddest  wod, 

Therfore  thou  bleddest  thre  dischful  of  blod  ; 

And,  yif  thou  bredest  wod  ani  more, 

Yit  I  sschal  dubble  thi  sore." 

Sche  wende  to  deghghe,  sche  was  agast, 
And  sent  after  here  moder  on  hast.  1910 

Hire  moder  com,  and  sche  saide, 
"  A !  mercy,  moder,  for  Mali  maide  ! 
I  schal  deghghe  :  nou  red  me  red  ! " 
"  Doughter,  what  schal  that  i-sed  ? 
Thou  most  me  telle  what  is  this. " 
"  Mi  louerd  me  hath  negh  slawen,  I  wis  j 


THE  SEUYN   SAGES.  75 

For  mine  thre  unwrast  dede, 

Thre  dissch-fol  of  blod  he  let  me  blede, 

That  I  ne  mai  line,  bi  Godes  ore!" 

"  Doughter,  lest  the  lone  more  ?"  1920 

"  Nai,  moder,  bi  God  Almight ! 

I  n'elle  neither  louie  clerk  ne  knight." 

"  No,  doughter ;  I  seide  ml  wel, 

That  olde  men  beth  queynte  and  fel ; 

Thai  conne  more  qued  bithenche, 

Than  thou  kanst  do  with  ani  wrenche. 

Hold  the  to  thine  hosebounde, 

And  thou  schalt  haue  al  the  mounde." 

u  Lo,  sire,  quad  Malquidras, 
Ne  was  this  a  wonder  cas  ?  1930 

Thries  misdede  this  womman  bald, 
And  thre  vengaunces  he  hire  yald. 
Therfore  sche  hadde  elles  i-don, 
That  had  ben  werst  of  euerichon. 
The  prest  hi  kaste  hire  loue  to, 
That  no  man  might  have  vndo. 
So  fareth  the  quen  with  hire  resoun, 
With  hire  lesingcs  and  fals  tresoun, 
Thi  sone  to  deth  for  to  bring  ; 
Ac  yif,  thou  leuest  hire  lesing,  1940 

Than  the  falie  a  werse  aprise, 
As  dede  to  that  elde  wise." 


76  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

"  Par  fai,  maister,  that  were  lawe  ; 
To-dai  ne  schal  he  nowt  be  slawe." 
The  maister  out  of  toun  rit ; 
The  child  bileft  in  prisoun-pit. 

The  dai  is  gon,  and  comen  the  night ; 
Th'  emperour  wente  to  chaumbre  aplight, 
His  emperice  ther  he  fond, 

Sore  wepe  and  wrong  hire  hond.  1950 

"  Madame,  saide  th'  emperour, 
Whi  makest  thou  swich  scher  and  foul  lour  ?" 
w  Sire,  no  wonder  though  ich  am  wroght, 
Thou  dost  thing  that  me  is  loht ; 
Thou  leuest  tales  of  losengrie, 
Of  falsnesse,  and  of  trecherie  : 
So  dede  Cressus  the  riche  man  ; 
Gold  and  siluer  to  wille  he  wan 
Bi  losengerie  an  bi  engin, 

Ac  hit  turned  him  to  euel  fin."  I960 

"  Madame,  he  saide,  tel  that  me 
Of  sire  Cressus,  hou  ended  he  ?" 
"  Blethliche,  sire,  so  mot  ich  th6, 
So  that  ye  wil  the  better  be." 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  77 


THE  IX.  TALE. 

CRESSUS  THE  RICHE  MAN. 

Virgil  was  whilom  a  clerk, 
That  coude  of  nigramancie  werk. 
He  made  a  fair  conjuring, 
Amideward  Rome  cheping, 
That  no  man  quenche  ne  might, 
With  no  water,  I  thou  plight.  1970 

Alle  the  poure  men  of  the  lond, 
Warmed  hem  ther,  bi  fot  and  hond, 
And  made  here  mete  bi  that  fir ; 
That  was  a  thing  of  gret  mater. 
And  ther  biside,  on  o  donjoun, 
He  kest  a  man,  of  cler  latoun, 
And  in  his  hond  an  arblast  heldand, 
And  therinne  a  quarel  taisand ; 
And  in  his  foreheued  was  writen,  with  blac, 
Lettres  that  this  word  spak  :  1980 

Yifme  smiteth  ani  man, 
I  schete  him  anon  ogan." 
So  hit  bifel,  on  a  dai, 
A  Lumbard  com,  with  gret  noblai, 
And  segh  the  merueile,  sannz  dout, 
And  saide  to  the  folk  about, 


iC 


78  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

"  Wil  ye  that  I  smite  this  man, 

To  loke  what  he  do  can  ?" 

And  thai  saide,  "  Ya  ; "  and  he  him  smette  : 

The  ymage  in  the  fir  sschette  ;  1990 

The  fir  aqueinte  for  euere  mo. 

"  Sire  was  this  wel  i-do  ?" — 
"  Nai,  dame,  he  saide,  bi  heuene  king, 
That  was  no  right  wis  doing  !" 
"  No  sire,  sche  saide,  withouten  fail  ; 
Ac  Virgil  dede  yit  more  meruail. — »■ 

"  Upon  the  est-yate  of  the  toun, 
He  made  a  man  of  fin  latoun, 
And  in  his  hond  of  gold  a  bal. 
Upon  the  yate  on  the  west-wal,  2000 

Virgil  kest  an  ymage  other, 
Right  als  hit  were  his  owen  brother, 
That  al  the  folk  of  Rome  said, 
With  that  bal  togider  thai  plaid. 
That  on  hit  hente,  that  other  hit  threw ; 
Mani  a  man  the  sothe  i-knew. 

Amideward  the  cite,  on  a  stage, 
Virgil  made  another  ymage, 
That  held  a  mirour  in  his  hond, 
And  oversegth  al  that  lond.  2010 

Who  wolde  pes,  who  wolde  bataille, 
Quik  he  warned  the  toun,  saunz  faile. 
Aboute  Rome  seuen  jurneys, 
Thous  he  warned  night  and  dais, 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  79 

And  tho  that  were  rebel  i-founde ; 
The  Romains  gadered  hem  in  a  stounde, 
Thai  wente  thider  quik  anon, 
And  destrued  here  fon. 

The  king  of  Poile  hadde  gret  enuie, 
That  the  Romayns  made  swich  maistrie,        2020 
For  he  ne  mighte,  for  non  nede, 
A  yen  Rome  in  batail  spede, 
That  he  ne  was  euer  more  biwraid, 
Ouercomen,  venkud,  and  bitraid. 
Upon  a  dai,  he  send  his  sond, 
After  alle  the  wise  men  of  his  lond, 
And  tolde  hem  alle  his  grenaunce ; 
And  saide  he  wolde  hegliche  auaunce, 
Who  might  that  ymage  fel  adoun, 
He  wolde  him  yif  his  warisoun.  2030 

Twei  clerkes,  brothers,  that  were  in  Rome, 
That  maisteri  on  honde  thai  nome : 
And  the  king  hem  made  seur 
Of  warisoun  and  gret  honour. 
Thai  dede  the  king  fille  twei  forcers 
Of  riche  golde  and  of  clers  ; 
And  dede  hit  lade,  with  priuet£, 
Into  Rome  that  riche  cite. 
That  o  forcer  thai  doluen,  nowt  late, 
In  Rome  ate  est-gate,  2040 

Under  the  ymage  that  the  bal  held ; 
This  was  a  dede  queinte  and  beld. 


W  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

That  other  forcer  ful  of  gold, 

Thai  bidoluen  in  the  mold, 

Under  the  west-gate,  that  no  man  wist ; 

This  was  a  dede  of  queint  list. 

Am  ore  wen,  thai  sschewed  hem  in  Rome, 

And  biforn  Sire  Cressus  come, 

And  said,  "  Al  hail,  sir  emperour ! 

It  falleth  to  the  tol  of  tresour.  2050 

We  come  to  do  the  understonde, 

Of  hid  tresor  in  thi  londe. 

Yif  thou  wilt  half  parte  with  ous, 

Thou  sschalt  hit  have,  Sire  Cressus !" 

Th'  emperour  saide,  "  That  I  n'ot ; 

Ich  have  forlorn  that  eueri  grot, 

And  therfore  frendes  I  graunt  you, 

That  ye  mai  finde  with  youre  vertu, 

The  haluendel  in  alle  thingge  ; 

Gowe  aboute  the  findinge ! "  2060 

"  Nai,  certes,  saide  the  elderer  brother, 

Arst  we  mote  don  another, 

Ich  mot  mete  a  sweuen  to-night, 

And  to  morewen,  whan  hit  is  light, 

Sire,  thou  schalt  have  thine  wille." 

Thous  thai  were  that  night  stille. 

"  Sone  amorewe,  with  god  entent, 
Sire  Cressus  to  the  est-gate  went. 
The  clerkes  doluen  in  the  mold, 
And  fond  a  forcer  ful  of  gold.  12070 


THE   SEUYN  SAGES,  81 

And  yaf  hit  up  to  th'  emperour, 

And  he  hit  feng  with  gret  honour. 

Amorewe,  the  yonger  saide,  wel  euen, 

"  Sire,  to-night  me  mette  a  sweuen, 

A  richcher  forcer  than  that, 

We  schulle  finde  ate  west-gate." 

Quik  wente  thider  th'  emperour, 

And  his  barouns  of  gret  honour, 

And  ther  thai  doluen  in  the  gronde ; 

A  riche  forcer  ther  thai  founde,  2080 

Ful  of  red  gold  i-graue, 

And  up  to  th'  emperour  thai  hit  haue. 

TV  emperour  held  hem  so  wise, 

In  al  the  werld  was  hire  pris. 

Than  swor  the  eldere,  "  Bi  blod  and  bones, 

Haue  ich  to-night  i-met  ones,^ 

I  schal  the  finde  tresor  i-telle, 

Is  non  richer  fram  hennes  to  helle." 

"  Thai  yede  to  bedde  and  risen  amorewe, 
Th'  emperour  to  mochel  sorewe.  2090 

Than  saide  the  elder  to  th'  emperour, 
"  Under  the  ymage  that  halt  the  mirour, 
In  al  Poile  ne  Romanye, 
Ne  is  so  mochel  tresorie  ; 
Moste  we  dehie  therunder, 
Thou  sscholdest  habbe  gold  a  wonder  ! n 
'  Nai,  quath  th'  emperour,  for  eghte  non, 
That  ymage  wolde  ich  misdon  ! " 

vol.  in.  f 


82  THE  SF.UYN  SAGES. 

Than  seide  the  yonger  to  th*  emperour, 

"  Ther  is  al  Virgiles  tresour!  2100 

We  schulle  the  ymage  so  undersette, 

That  we  ne  schal  hit  nothing  lette, 

And  whan  we  han  the  gold  in  the  grounde, 

We  sscholle  hit  make  as  we  hit  founde, 

For  we  beth  mazouns  queinte  of  cast." 

Than  saide  Cressus,  "  Goht  an  hast." 

Thai  bigonne  hire  werk,  sannz  dout, 

And  sette  postes  al  about, 

And  bigan  to  mini  under. 

Herkneth  now  a  selkouth  wonder  I  2110 

Thai  to-rent  ston  fram  ston, 

The  fondement  to-brast  anon. 

Al  dai  thai  mined  doun  right, 

Til  hit  com  to  the  night. 

"  On  the  morewe  (thei  saide  to  Cressus  stille), 

Of  gold  thou  schalt  haue  thi  wille." 

The  emperour  wente  to  his  palais ; 

Clerkes  also  and  mani  burgeis, 

£ch  man  wente  to  his  inne  : 

The  clerkes  thoughte  another  ginne.  2120 

Whanne  ech  man  slepen,  grete  and  smale, 

The  clerkes  to  the  stage  stale, 

And  bet  a  fir  strong  and  sterk ; 

The  fir  fleghth  up  into  the  werk, 

And  falsed  the  siment,  and  the  ston ; 

The  ymage  ouerthrew  anon. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  83 

And  tho  the  clerkes  seghthen  this, 
Awai  thai  flowen,  for  sothe  I  wis. 

Amorewe  th'  emperour  aros  ; 
Of  this  dede  him  sore  agros.  2130 

In  his  herte  was  kare  and  howe ; 
Awai  he  wolde  han  i-flowe. 
The  smale,  and  the  poeple  of  Rome, 
To  Sire  Cressus  thai  nome  sone, 
And  tolde  him,  for  coueitise, 
He  hadde  i-loren  Romes  prise. 
Thai  ladde  [him]  forth  in  that  stounde, 
And  to  a  table  fast  him  bounde ; 
And  red  gold  quik  thai  melte, 
And  nose  and  mouht  ful  thai  helte,  2140 

And  eren,  and  eghen  also, 
Therwhiles  a  drope  wolde  in  go  ; 
And  seide,  "  Sire,  for  Godes  loue, 
Thou  hast  mad  thrai  that  was  aboue ; 
Nou  artou  ful ;  nou  make  the  heit, 
Nou  wiltou  na  more  coveit." 
Now  is  he  ded  with  mochel  schame." 


"  O  thou  seist  soth,  he  saide,  dame ! " 
"  Ya,  sire,  for  his  lesingges, 

That  he  leued  twaie  false  gadelinges,  2150 

He  turned  to  wel  iuel  fin. 
Sire,  swich  schal  be  ending  thin." 


84  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 

"  Nai,  dame,  he  saide,  yif  God  wile." 

"  Yes,  sire,  sche  saide,  bi  right  skile ; 

For  thou  leuest  wel  flaterie, 

That  the  maistres  conne  to  the  lie, 

And  desire  to  make  thin  air, 

He  that  sschall  the  schende  vair, 

For  he  is  the  fendes  chike ; 

Therwhiles  he  liueth  thou  mai  sike."  2160 

"  Dame,  I  sschal  kepe  me  fram  kare ; 

Right  to-more  we  he  sschal  forth-fare." 

"  Sire,  sche  saide,  bi  Seint  Michel, 

Thanne  dost  thou  wisliche  and  wel." 

Morewe  com,  as  ye  mowe  here ; 
TV  emperour  aros  with  wroth  chere, 
And  to  his  paleys  he  gan  wende, 
Righte  biforen  his  barouns  hende. 
He  let  brenge  forht  his  owen  sone  ; 
And  whan  he  com  out  of  prisoun,  2170 

Amideward  Rome  toun, 
Than  com  riden  maister  Catoun. 
The  folk  of  Rome  on  hiin  gan  crie, 
And  saide,  "  Catoun  !  kithe  thi  maistrie ! 
Help  thi  disciple  in  this  nede  !" 
Catoun  light  adoun  of  his  stede, 
And  grette  th?  emperour  on  his  kne, 
And  vnethe  he  wold  him  se. 
He  seide  to  him,  "  Maister  Catoun, 
Thou  hast  me  don  wel  gret  traisoun  !  2180 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  85 

For  to  the,  and  thine  fere, 

I  bitok  mi  sone  to  lere, 

Ye  taughte  him  to  nimen  forth  min  emprice  ! " — 

"  Sire,  quath  Catoun,  swich  wordes  beth  nice/' — 

"  And  his  speche  is  forlore." 

"  Nai  sire,  and  he  finde  your  grace  bifore. 

Thi  wif  wolde  he  forlain  haue  nowt ; 

Yif  thou  hit  leuest,  thou  art  bicought. 

Ac  yif  thou  do  thi  sone  duresse, 

On  the*  falle  swich  a  destresse,  2190 

And  swich  a  maner  vileynie, 

As  hadde  the  burgeis  for  his  pie." 

"  O,  maister,  he  saide,  what  ?  what  ? 

I  the  praie,  tel  me  that !  " 

"  Sire,  he  saide,  what  helpeth  hit  mi  sawe, 

Gif  thi  sone  therwhiles  beth  i-slawe  ? 

Ac  let  him  fechche  quik  ayain, 

And  I  the  schal  mi  tale  sain." 

The  emperour  of  Rome,  Dioclician, 
His  sone  he  het  fechche  anon.  2200 


86  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 


THE  X.  TALE. 


THE  MAGPIE. 


Nou,  everich  man  that  loueth  his  hale. 
Lestne  wel  Catones  tale  ! 

"  A  burgeis  was  in  Rome  toun, 
A  riche  man  of  gret  renoun  ; 
Marchaunt  he  was  of  gret  auoir, 
And  had  a  wif  was  queint  and  fair ; 
But  sche  was  fikel,  vnder  hir  lok, 
And  hadde  a  parti  of  Eue  smok : 
And  manie  ben  yit  of  hire  kinne, 
That  ben  al  bilapped  therinne!  2210 

"  The  burgeis  hadde  a  pie  in  his  halle, 
That  couthe  telle  tales  alle 
Apertlich,  in  French  langage, 
And  heng  in  a  fair  cage, 
And  seth  lemmans  comen  and  gon, 
And  teld  hire  louerd  sone  anon ; 
And,  for  that  the  pie  hadde  i-said, 
The  wif  was  ofte  iuel  i-paid. 
And  the  burgeis  louede  his  pie, 
For  he  wiste  he  couthe  nowt  lie.  2220 

"  So  hit  bifil,  vpon  a  dai, 
The  burgeis  frani  home  tok  his  wai, 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  87 

And  wente  aboute  his  marchaundise : 

The  wif  waited  anon  hire  prise, 

And  sente  here  copiner  fore  ; 

And  whanne  he  com  to  the  halle  dore, 

He  ne  dorste  nowt  in  hie, 

For  the  wreiing  of  the  pie. 

The  wif  him  bi  the  hond  hent, 

And  into  chaumbre  anon  thei  went.  2230 

"  The  pie  bigan  to  grede  anon, 
u  Ya !  now  mi  louerd  is  out  i-gon, 
Thou  comest  hider  for  no  gode ! 
I  schal  you  wraie  bi  the  rode  ! " 
The  wif  thought  schent  sche  was. 
A  wrenche  sche  thoughte  nathelas ; 
And  clepede  a  maide  to  make  here  bed, 

And  after,  bi  hir  bother  red, 

A  laddre  thai  sette  the  halle  to, 

And  vndede  a  tile  or  two  ;  2240 

Ouer  the  pie  thai  gan  handel 

A  cler  bacyn,  and  a  candel ; 

A  pot  ful  of  water  cler 

Thai  sschadde  upon  the  pies  swer. 

With  bacyn  beting,  and  kandel  light, 

Tha  bobbed  the  pie  bi  night, 

And  water  on  him  gan  schenche : 

This  was  on  of  wommannes  wrenche. 
"  Tho  the  dai  dawen  gan, 

Awai  stal  the  yonge  man.  $250 


88  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Men  vnlek  dore  and  windowe ; 

The  pie  him  schok  with  mochel  howe, 

For  ssche  was  fain  that  hit  was  dai : 

The  copiner  was  went  his  wai. 

The  gode  burgeis  was  horn  i-come  ; 

Into  the  halle  the  wai  he  nome. 

The  pie  saide,  "  Bi  God  Almight ! 

The  copiner  was  her  to-night, 

And  hath  i-don  the  mochel  sschame ; 

I-mad  an  hore  of  oure  dame !  2260 

And  yit  hit  had  ben,  to-night, 

Gret  rain,  and  thonder  bright ; 

Sehthen  ich  was  brid  in  mi  nest, 

I  ne  hadde  neuere  so  iuel  rest." 

"  The  wif  hath  the  tale  i-herd, 
And  thoughte  wel  to  ben  amered ; 
And  saide,  "  Sire,  thou  hast  outrage 
To  leue  a  pie  in  a  kage ! 
To-night  was  the  weder  fair  and  cler, 
And  the  firmament  wel  fair  ;  2270 

And  sche  saith  hit  hath  ben  thonder  : 
Sche  hath  i-lowe  mani  a  wonder  ; 
But  ich  be  awreke  of  here  swithe, 
Ne  schal  I  neuer  ben  womman  blithe !" 

"  The  godeman  askede  his  neghebours, 
Of  that  night,  and  of  the  ours  ; 
And  thai  saide,  that  al  that  night, 
Was  the  weder  cler  and  bright. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  89 

The  burgeis  saide,  the  pie, 

Ne  scholde  him  namore  lie.  2280 

Nammo  wordes  he  thar  spak, 

But,  al  so  svvithe,  his  nekke  to-brak. 

"  And  whamie  he  segh  his  pie  ded, 
For  sore  we  coude  he  no  red  : 
He  seghgh  hir  and  his  cage, 
He  thoughte  of  gile  and  of  outrage. 
He  wente  him  out,  the  ladder  he  segth, 
And  up  to  the  halle  rof  he  stegth. 
The  pot  with  the  water  he  fond  ; 
(That  he  brak  with  his  hond  ;)  2290 

And  manie  other  trecherie, 
That  was  i-don  to  his  pie. 

He  went  him  doun,  withouten  oth, 

In  his  herte  grim  and  wroth  ; 

And  with  a  god  staf,  ful  sket, 

His  wif  ate  dore  he  bet ; 

And  bad  hire  go,  that  ilche  dai, 

On  alder  twenti  deuel  wai ! 

"  Lo  sire,  he  seide,  for  a  foles  red, 
The  pie,  that  seide  soht,  was  ded ;  2300 

Hadde  he  taken  god  conseil, 
His  pie  hadde  ben  hoi  and  hale  ; 
And  al  so  fareth  thin  emperice, 
Thourgh  here  resoun,  sscherewed  and  nice, 


90  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Sche  goth  aboute,  dai  and  night, 

Thi  sone  to  dethe  for  to  dight ; 

And  he  be  ded,  verraiment, 

Ne  worth  ther  11011  amendement. 

Bi  here  rede  ne  do  thou  nout ; 

Yif  thou  do,  thou  art  bicought.  2310 

Al  the  werld  the  spise, 

Yif  thou  do  bi  here,  and  lete  the  wise." 

Anon  th'  ernperour  saide  than, 
u  Catoun,  bi  him  that  made  man, 
Don  ich  vville  after  thi  sawe  ; 
To-dai  ne  sschal  he  nowt  be  slawe." 
The  schild  bileft  in  prisoun  ; 
Vpon  his  palfrai  lep  Catoun, 
And  hadde  mani  a  blessing, 
For  his  disciples  deliuering.  2320 

The  night  is  comen,  the  dai  is  gon, 
Th'  ernperour  wente  to  chaumbre  anon  ; 
His  quen  thanne  ayen  him  nam, 
With  semblant  ase  a  wroth  wimman. 
"  Dame,  he  saide,  pluk  up  thi  cher, 
Other  tel  me  whi  thou  makest  swich  cher  ?" 
"  Hit  iris  no  wonder,  sire,  bi  heuene ! 
The  sschulle  sschende  thi  maistres  seuene ; 
That  niaketh  the  to  Joue  thi  fo. 
Forthi  ich  wille  nou  fram  the  go  ;  2330 

Ac  yif  thou  dost  more  bi  hire  leuing, 
Falle  on  the  ase  dede  Herowde  the  king, 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  91 


That  les  his  sight  in  wonder  wise ; 
Therfore  thou  might  sore  agrise  !" 
"  Dame,  he  saide,  on  ech  manere, 
That  ilche  tale  ich  most  here  !" 
"  Bletheliche,  sire,  so  mot  ich  the, 
So  that  ye  wolde  the  better  be. 


THE  XL  TALE. 

HEROWDES  AND  MERLIN. 

"An  emperour  was  in  Rome, 
The  richest  man  of  Cristendome,  2340 

Herowdes  was  his  righte  name  ; 
Wide  i-sprongge  his  riche  fame- 
He  hadde  with  him  seuen  wise, 
A  Is  ye  han,  of  grete  prise. 
Al  that  th'  emperour  dede  or  thout, 
Bi  here  conseil  al  he  hit  wrout. 
So  her  was  arered,  in  this  toun, 
Bi  here  rede,  and  bi  here  costom, 
That  who  that  mette  a  sweven  anight, 
He  scholde  come  amorewe,  aplight,  2350 


92  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  brenge  a  besaund  to  offring, 

And  of  his  sweuen  have  undoing. 

So  longe  thai  vsed  this  errour, 

Thai  were  richcher  than  th'  emperour, 

So  hit  bifel,  vpon  a  dai, 

A  Is  he  went  vpon  his  plai, 

And  whan  he  com  to  Rome  yate, 

And  wolde  wenden  out  therate, 

He  bicam  blind  so  ston. 

His  maistres  he  of-sente  anon,  2360 

And  asked  whi  he  might  nowt  se, 

Whan  he  scholde  out  of  Rome  te  ? 

Thai  asked  respit  a  fourten  night ; 

Bi  than  thai  trowede  that  thai  might 

In  hire  bokes  finde  resoun, 

And  answeren  him  with  right  enchesoun. 

Respit  thai  hadde  of  th'  emperour  ; 

He  wente  him  horn  to  his  tour, 

And  the  maistres  horn  went, 

And  hire  bokes  went  and  trent,  2370 

Ac  thai  ne  couthe  nowt  i-find, 

Whi  th'  emperour  was  blinde. 

Thai  soughte  conseil  fer  and  negh, 

Ase  man  that  is  queinte. 

"  So,  on  a  dai  after  than, 
Thai  mette  with  an  hold  man, 
And  tolde  him  al  hire  conseil  ; 
And  he  answered,  sauuz  fail, 


THE  SEUYN   SAGES.  93 

"  In  al  the  werld  n'is  man  liuind, 

That  couthe  you  that  sothe  finde,  2380 

But  gif  hit  ware  child  on, 

That  neuer  hadde  fader  non. 

For  he  can  telle  sothes  alle, 

That  ben  don  in  bour  and  halle. 

Yif  ye  that  schild  finde  mowe, 

He  schal  you  telle,  ich  wille  auowe." 

The  maistres  wolde  no  leng  abide, 

To  seche  the  schild  thai  gonne  ride. 

On  a  dai  thai  com  ther  Merlin  pleid, 

And  on  of  his  felawes  him  traid,  Q390 

And  he  was  wroth,  and  maked  a  res, 

And  cleped  him  sschrewe  faderles  ; 

And  saide  he  was  of  the  fendes  kinde, 

Hise  felawes  euer  misdoinde. 

"  Datheit  hane  thou  !  quath  child  Merlin, 

Al  to  loude  thou  spak  thi  Latin ! 

Seue  maistres  is  her  come, 

That  han  me  sought,  al  fram  Rome, 

Thai  han  with  me  mochel  to  done  ; 

Ich  wil  hem  helpe  swithe  sone."  2400 

With  that  com  a  man  of  that  lond, 

And  brought  a  besaund  in  his  hond> 

To  whom  that  Merlin  saide  thous. 

"  Man,  thou  art  ful  merueilous  ; 

Thou  woldest  haue  undoing 

Of  thi  to-nightes  meting. 


94  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Forthi,  thou  woldest  that  o  besaund  offer ; 

Bere  hit  horn  into  thi  coffer, 

-And  I  sschal  telle,  and  nowt  ne  lie, 

What  thi  meting  signefie.  2410 

Thou  mettest  to-night,  in  thi  donghel 

Sprong  a  water  out  of  a  wel, 

That  was  of  swithe  god  sauour, 

And  seruede  the  and  thi  nethghebour. 

I  wil  the  saie  the  sothe  word, 

The  welle  bitokneth  a  gold  hord : 

To-delue  anon  in  thi  donghel, 

Thou  sschalt  hit  finde  swithe  snel." 

Thanne  he  dalf  therinne  anon, 

And  fond  of  gold  ful,  God  won.  2420 

He  yaf  the  maistres  of  the  gold, 

As  moche  ase  thai  nime  wold, 

And  also  his  neghhebour  ; 

He  made  him  riche  of  that  tresour. 

But  Merlin  saide,  bi  heuene  king, 

He  wolde  therof  nothing. 

"  The  maistres  out  of  toune  nome, 
And  ladden  Merlyn  toward  Rome, 
And  asked  him,  with  milde  mouthe, 
Yif  he  the  sotfie  telle  conthe,  2430 

Whi  th'  emperour  might  nowt  se 
Whanne  he  scholde  out  of  Rome  te  ? 
"  Ya,  saide  Merlin,  sikerli, 
Ich  kan  telle  him  ful  wel  whi  !" 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  95 

The  maistres  were  glad  of  this, 

And  to  Rome  thai  went,  I  wis. 

The  dai  was  comen  that  hem  was  set, 

Anon  with  th'  emperour  thai  met, 

And  saide,  "  The  dai  is  comen  of  answering." 

Quath  Herowdes,  "  That  is  soth  thing."        2440 

Tel  me  hastilich  and  sket 

Thing  that  ye  me  bihet." 

"  Lo,  sire,  we  han  a  schild  i-browt, 

That  schal  the  telle  al  thi  thowt. 

Lo  her,  sire,  a  litel  page ! 

That  schal  sai  the  thi  corage." 

Quath  th'  emperour  of  lime  and  lond, 

"  Wil  ye  his  tale  take  an  hond  V 

"  Ya,  on  al  that  we  haue  or  haue  mowe, 

The  childes  tale  we  wil  auowe."  2450 

"  Tel  me,  he  saide,  child  Merlin  !" 

"  Sir,  lad  me  arst  to  chaumbre  thin." 

Th'  emperour  him  ladde  anon, 

Into  his  chaumbre  of  lim  and  ston  ; 

And  whanne  thai  were  therinne  i-schet, 

Merlin  his  tonge  with  wit  whet, 

And  spak  to  th'  emperour : 

"  Thou  hast,  he  saith,  her  in  thi  bour, 

Fer  under  thi  bed  adoun, 

A  gret  boiland  cauderoun,  2460 

With  seuen  walmes  boiland  ; 

The  walmes  han  the  abland, 


96  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  therwhiles  thai  boilland  be, 

Sire,  thou  ne  schalt  neuer  i-se  : 

And  yif  thai  mai  ben  queint  aright, 

Thou  might  wel  haue  thi  sight. 

Th'  emperour  had  wonder  of  this, 

And  let  reume  his  bed,  I  wis, 

And  tok  ten  men  other  twelue, 

And  liet  hem  in  the  grounde  delue.  2470 

Tfiai  deden  ase  here  louerd  hem  het, 

And  doluen  alle  ther  ful  sket. 

Thai  ne  hadde  doluen  but  a  stounde, 

That  the  cauudronn  was  i-founde, 

That  hadde  right  walmes  seuen  : 

Tho  was  i-leued  the  schildes  steven. 

"  Quad  th'  emperour,  "  Forsothe  I  wis, 
Bi  the  I  wil  don  after  this  ; 
Ac,  telle  me,  child,  som  resouns, 
What  bitokneth  this  boilouns  ?"  2480 

"  Sire,  do  out  thi  folk  ichon, 
And  ich  wil  the  telle  swithe  anon." 
Th*  emperour,  anon  right, 
Drof  out  both  clerk  and  knight. 
Thanne  biginneth  the  child  Merlin, 
To  telle  th'  emperour  swich  Latin  : 
"  Sire,  he  said,  bi  God  in  heuen, 
1  hise  boilouns  that  boilen  seuen, 
Bitoknen  thine  seuen  wise, 
That  han  i-wrowt  ayen  the  assise.  '2490 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  97 

Thai  han  arrered  custumes  newe, 

That  thai  mai  wel  sore  rewe. 

Be  hit  other  clerk  or  knight, 

And  him  mete  a  sweuene  anight, 

He  cometh  amorewe  ich  understonde, 

An  brengeth  a  besaund  in  his  hond, 

And  to  the  maistres  hire  sweuene  telle  ; 

Thai  hit  vndo  after  her  wille. 

Thai  respounde  ase  hem  liketh  ; 

Thous  thai  mani  man  biswiketh.  2500 

And,  for  that  ilche  senne,  I  finde 

That  thou  art  bicome  blinde." 

"  Nou,  tel  me,  child,  thin  entent, 

What  mai  me  to  amendement  I" 

"  Leue  sire,  for  mi  loue, 

Bi  on  of  hem  mi  tale  proue* 

Leue  sire,  taketh  th'  emprise, 

And  taketh  the  eldest  of  the  wise, 

Lat  smite  atwo  his  nekke  bon  ; 

The  grettest  walm  shal  quenche  anon."  2510 

Th'  emperour  dede  be  the  schildes  lore, 

The  eldest  maister  was  slein  therfore. 

His  heued  was  into  the  cauudroun  cast, 

The  greste  walm  queynte  on  hast. 

Tho  th'  emperour  wiste  this, 

He  let  sle  alle  seuene,  I  wis. 

The  water  bicom  faire  and  lithe  j 

Th'  emperour  therof  was  blithe. 

VOL.  III.  g 


98  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Anon  he  wichss  therof  his  hond, 

And  ouersegh  al  the  lond.  2520 

"  And,  sire,  so  fare  nfaistres  thine, 
Thai  schul  th£  bringe  to  mochele  pine. 
Thai  han  so  i-blent  th&, 
That  thou  might  nowt  that  sothe  i-se. 
Ac  yif  thou  dost  more  bi  here  rede, 
To  swiche  blendnesse  mote  thai  the  lede, 
As  hadde  Herowdes  the  king, 
That  was  negh  browt  to  iuel  ending." 
"  Nai,  dame,  he  said,  thou  art  wilde  ! 
Fram  swiche  schame  God  me  schilde  !  2530 

For  hem  I  schal  me  ful  wel  kepe, 
Of  hem  ne  yive  I  nowt  an  hepe." 
"  Sire,  sche  saide,  thou  hast  god  right ; 
Thai  ben  about,  dai  and  night, 
The  to  bigile  an  bitraie." — 

Cokkes  crewe,  and  hit  was  daie. 
Th'  emperour  aros  anon, 
And  wente  to  his  halle  of  ston  ; 
And  ase  th'  emperour,  verraiment, 
Hadde  yiuen  his  sone  juggement,  2540 

The  sexte  maister  com  into  the  halle, 
And  hendeliche  he  grette  hem  alle, 
And  saide,  "  Sire,  thou  art  wel  nice, 
To  leuc  so  mochel  thin  emperice. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  99 

Whanne  thou  leuest  hire  so 

That  thou  wilt  thi  sone  slo, 

Thanne  mot  hit  so  fare  bi  th&, 

As  bi  a  sschereue  of  this  countr£, 

Tha[t]  hirt  his  wif  with  a  knif 

In  the  wombe,  he  les  his  lif.  2550 

Quath  th'  emperour,  "  In  alle  man&r, 

That  ilche  tale  ich  moste  her." 

"  Leue  sire,  what  helpeth  mi  tale, 

Yif  thi  sone  tholieth  dethes  bale  ? 

Yif  him  to-dai-longes  rest ; 

Ich  schal  the  telle  a  newe  gest ; 

Swich  a  tale  I  the  telle  can, 

Ne  schaltou  neuer  leue  wimman." 

Th'  emperour  hete  him  let, 

And  his  sone  ayen  fet.  2560 

The  child  was  pult  in  prisoun, 

The  maister  ginneth  his  resoun. 


100  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 


THE  XIL  TALE. 

THE  SCHERTFF  HIS  WIDOWE,  AND  THE 
KMIGHT. 

"  Sire,  he  saide,  thou  might  me  leue, 
Hit  was  a  knight,  a  riche  scherreue, 
And  [had  a]  yong  jolif  wif, 
That  he  louede  has  his  lif, 
And  ssche  him,  bi  vnderstonding, 
Louede  him  wel  in  alle  thing. 
So,  on  a  dai,  him  and  his  wif 
Was  i-youen  a  newe  knif ;  2570 

Fair  hit  was,  and  of  egge  scharp  ; 
And  thai  on  gamen  gonne  carp. 
The  knight  his  wif  in  the  wombe  carf ; 
For  doel  therof  amorewe  [he]  starf : 
He  dede  gret  foli,  cert, 
Or  to  tendre  was  his  hert. 
Sone  amorewe,  erliche, 
He  was  biwaked  richeliche, 
And  wel  faire  browt  on  erthe, 
After  that  he  was  werthe.  2580 

The  leuedi  saide,  for  no  wenne, 
Sche  ne  wolde  neuer  wende  thenne, 


LIBRARY 

Pontifical  Institute  of  Mediaeval  Studied 

113  ST.  JOSEPH  STREET 
TORONTO,  ONT.,  CANADA    M5S  1J4 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  101 

But,  as  hir  louerd  for  hir  daide, 

Sche  wolde  be  ded,  an  bi  him  laide. 

Here  frendes  segghen  al  that  cas, 

And  comen  to  hire  to  make  solas, 

And  saiden,  "  Dame,  gent  and  fre, 

Of  thiselue  have  pite  ; 

For  thou  art  fair  and  yong,  saunz  fail, 

And  maist  the  werld  mochel  auail :  2590 

Some  knight  the  wedde  of  noblai, 

And  haue  with  him  moche  to  plai ; 

Gode  children  biyeten  and  faire. 

Gentil  dame,  debonaire, 

Lete  awai  thi  mourning, 

And  tak  the  to  som  conforting  !" 

"  That  wil  I  do  for  no  wele  ; 

Ac  die  ich  wille  on  his  beriele  !" 

Sche  saide  "  Alias !  and  wailawo  ! 

N'el  ich  hennes  neuere  go,  2600 

Ne  confor  take  neuer  mo." — 

Here  frendes  were  sori  tho. 

A  logge  thai  made  vpon  his  graue, 

For  sche  wolde  ther  bilaue  ; 

And  maked  hir  a  ful  fair  fer, 

And  fond  hire  that  night  stouer, 

And  left  here  alone, 

And  sche  made  reuli  mone. 

"  That  ich  dai  thai  were  i-nome, 
The  thre  theues  bi  commin  dome.  26 JO 


102  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 

The  thre  theues  were  knightes, 

That  were  i-honged  anon  rightes, 

For  thai  hadde  the  countre  anuwed, 

And  with  robberie  destrwed, 

An-honged  thai  were  alle  thre. 

A  knight  of  the  countre1  held  his  fe, 

For  to  loke  the  thre  knightes 

Vpon  the  galewes  thre  nightes. 

He  com  to  the  galewes,  armed  wel, 

Bothe  in  iren  and  in  stel,  2620 

For  to  make  the  ferst  night-ward. 

The  weder  was  cold  and  froward  ; 

He  was  for-cold,  and  lokede  aboute, 

And  was  war,  withouten  doute, 

Of  the  fir  in  the  chirche-hawe, 

And  thiderward  he  gan  to  drawe, 

For  to  haue  som  warmyng  ; 

And  fond  the  leuedi  doel  makying, 

And  bad  sche  scholde  late  him  in. 

Sche  saide,  sche  n'olde,  bi  Seint  Johain.        2650 

"  A  yis  !  he  seide,  leve  dame, 

I  n'elle  the  do  harm,  ne  sschame." 

He  svvor,  as  he  was  gentil  knight. — 

Sche  let  him  in  anon  right. 

He  sat  and  warmed  him  bi  the  fer, 

He  biheld  the  leuedis  cher, 

And  segh  swich  semblant  sche  made  ; 

And  saide,  "  Dame,  thou  art  a  gade, 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  103 

That  thou  mounest  for  the  ded, 

That  mai  the  do  nother  god  ne  qued  !  2640 

Confort  thiself,  pluk  up  thin  herte  ; 

Swich  mourning  than  wil  th&  smerte. 

Of  this  mourning  thou  hast  vnright ; 

Thou  scholdest  louye  som  gentil  knight, 

That  the  might  do  sum  solas." 

And  sche  saide,  "  Alias  !  alias ! 

He  was  so  smal  and  so  gent, 

I  ne  mai  loue  non  other,  verraiment ! " 

"  Ne  hadde  he  seten  ther  but  a  while, 
He  thoughte  men  mighte  don  him  gile  ;        2650 
He  priked  to  the  galewes  with  his  fole, 
And  fond  that  a  thef  was  i-stole. 
Tho  was  him  wo,  verraiment, 
He  scholde  lese  his  auauncement, 
But  he  mighte  finde  the  thridde, 
The  thef  that  heng  the  twaie  amidde. 
He  that  wimmen  couthe  red, 
To  help  men  at  her  ned : 
Sche  ne  was  nowt  fer,  but  somdel  negh, 
He  telde  hire  the  sorewe  that  he  dregh  ;        2660 
And  bisoughte  hire  of  god  conseiling, 
For  that  he  was  in  gret  mourning. 
Sche  saide,  "  Sire,  ich  wille  help  the, 
So  that  thou  wille  spousi  me." 
"  Yis,  dame,  he  saide,  preciouse, 
Gif  thou  me  helpe,  ich  wille  the  spouse." 


104  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 

Sche  let  here  sorewe  awai  gon, 

And  saide,  "  Help,  lemman,  anon, 

Help  delf  vp  mi  lord  that  was, 

He  schal  vs  helpen  in  this  cas ;  2670 

And  honge  we  him  in  his  entaile  ! " 

Here  red  was  don,  saunz  faille. 

Hit  ne  mai  nowt  ben  forhole ; 

Thai  baren  him  forth  for  him  was  stole ! 

Thanne  saide  the  knight  to  the  leuedi, 

"  Who  mai  this  knight  hongi  ? 

I  the  segge,  bi  heuene  king, 

I  n'olde  him  honge  for  no  thing. 

For,  yif  ich  hadde  i-honged  a  knight, 

I  schol  be  coward  i-cleped  with  right."  2680 

"  Sire,  sche  saide,  ich  wil  fol  fawe 

Heghe  him  honge  and  vpdrawe." 

The  leuedi  dede,  in  wode  gere, 

Ane  rop  aboute  hire  lordes  swere, 

And  drow  him  up,  and  heng  him  fast ; 

The  knight  of  hire  dedes  was  agast, 

And  saide,  "  Dame,  be  gode  mounde, 

The  stolen  knight  hadde  a  wonde 

In  his  heued  that  was  biknawe, 

Wharbi  him  knewe  heghe  and  lowe  ;  2690 

And  but  thi  louerd  swich  on  haue, 

I  the  saye,  so  God  me  saue, 

Sone,  withinne  litel  while, 

Worht  i-parceiued  oure  gile." 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  105 

u  Sire,  sche  saide,  tak  thi  swerd, 

And  in  the  heued  smit  mi  louerd ; 

Thanne  schal  hit  ben  non  vnderstonding, 

But  hit  was  he  that  er  thar  hing." 

"  Nai,  dame,  for  moche  ne  lite 

The  dede  knight  wolde  I  nowt  smite."  2700 

u  No,  sire  ?  sche  saide,  thi  swerd  me  reche, 

And  ich  him  schal,  with  min  hond,  teche 

Hou  Godes  grame  com  to  toune, 

Right  amidelward  his  croun." 

The  leuedi  tok  and  smot  with  mayn, 

Al  amidelward  the  brayn. 

Thanne  the  knight  wel  understod, 

That  fals  and  fikel  was  hire  blod, 

And  saide,  "  Yit  vnliche  he  beth  ; 

Broken  were  his  fore-teth."  27 10 

u  Sire,  sche  saide,  smit  hem  out." 

u  Nai,  dame,"  he  saide  withouten  dout. 

".Than  wil  ich,"  she  saide,  and  tok  a  ston, 

And  smot  hem  out  euerichon. 

Whan  this  dede  was  i-do, 

The  leuedi  saide  the  kukri  t  to, 
'  Sire,  now  ich  haue  i-wonne  thi  loue ! " 
'*  Nai,  dame,  he  saide,  bi  God  aboue, 

For  gold  no  silver,  lond  ne  house, 

Thi  false  bodi  ne  wolde  1  spouse  !  2720 

For  al  so  woldestou  serue  me, 

Hasc  thou  hast  don  thi  louerd  so  fre. 


106  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Thou  hast  i-tawt  me  a  newe  ran, 
That  I  schal  neuer  leue  wimman ; 
For  there  thai  make  semblant  fairest, 
Thai  wil  bigile  ye  altherformest !" 

"  Sire,  and  on  the  falle  svvich  a  strif, 
Als  dede  the  sschereue  of  his  wif, 
Yif  thou,  for  thin  emperice  wild, 
Wolle  sle  thin  owen  child.  2730 

Ac,  sire,  abid  til  another  morewe, 
On  hire  schal  falle  alle  the  sorewe. 
And  whanne  thou  herest  thi  sone  speke, 
Rightfulliche  thou  him  awreke." 
Th'  emperour  saide,  "  So  ich  schal ;" 
And  thanne  departed  the  curt  al, 
Some  to  castel,  and  some  to  tour. 

Th'  emperour  wente  to  his  bour ; 
Th'  emperice  made  semblant  ille, 
For  sche  ne  hadde  nowt  hire  wille.  2740 

His  owen  men  nathelas, 
Made  wel  god  solas. 

Th'  emperour  was  browt  abedde, 
With  riche  baudekines  i-spredde, 
Th'  emperice  him  com  to, 
Als  sche  was  ar  i-wont  to  do, 
a  Sire,  hastou  owt  herde  the  geste, 
Whi  men  made  folen  feste?" 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  107 

"  Nai,  dame,  he  saide,  gent  and  fre, 

I  the  praie  thanne  telle  hit  me."  2750 


THE  XIII.  TALE. 


OF  MAISTER  GEMES. 


"  Sire,  sche  saide,  withouten  dout, 
Whilom  was  Rome  bilayn  about 
With  seuen  Soudans  biset, 
Wal  and  gate  and  castelet. 
The  honour  of  Rome  for  to  abate, 
And  for  to  strwe  Seinte  Petres  sate ; 
That  is  to  seie,  Cristendom  to  felle, 
And  Cristenmen  to  aquelle. 
The  folk  hem  ful  wel  held, 

Wise  of  speche,  of  dede  beld ;  2760 

"  To  vii  wise  men  toke  we  this  toun, 
To  kep  hit  fram  destructioun." 
Bi  his  rede  hit  was  i-take, 
To  vii  wise  men  to  biwake. 
A  moneth  thai  kept  hit, 
Als  we  findeth  in  the  writ. 


I 

108  THE  SEUYN  SAGESt 


Whan  hit  com  to  the  moneth  ende, 

Thai  ne  might  hit  no  lenger  defende, 

But  ase  thai  dede  a  fair  queintise. 

Herkneth  now  in  what  wise  !  2770 

"  A  man  ther  was,  so  seigh  the  rime, 
That  hit  Gemes,  in  that  time  ; 
He  was  on  of  the  seuen  wise  : 
Ther  he  dede  a  fair  queintise. 
He  let  him  make  a  garnement, 
Ase  blak  as  ani  arnement, 
And  heng  theron  squirel  taile, 
A  thousand  and  mo,  withouten  fail. 
A  viser  yit  he  made  more, 

Two  faces  bihinde  and  two  before  ;  2780 

With  lang  noses  and  mowthes  wide, 
And  vgly  eres  on  ether  syde ; 
With  eghen  that  war  ful  bright  and  clere, 
And  brade,  ilkone,  als  a  sawsere  ; 
With  brade  tonges,  and  bright-glowand, 
Als  it  war  a  fire-brand. 

"  When  he  had  on  this  wise  done, 
The  folk  of  Rome  he  sembled  sone  ; 
And  bad  tham  fast,  withouten  fayl, 
Ordain  tham  vnto  batayl.  2790 

Al  thai  answerd  him  vntill, 
Thai  sold  be  redy  at  his  will, 
On  the  morn  with  sheld  and  spere. 
The  maister  than  dyd  on  his  geie, 


THE  SEUYN   SAGES.  109 

And  went  vp  in  a  towr  on  hight, 

Whare  the  Sarzins  se  him  myght. 

His  veser  on  his  heued  he  kest ; 

A  bright  merure  aboue  he  fest : 

Twa  swerdes  out  gan  he  brayd, 

And  grete  strakes  obowt  him  laid*  2800 

He  made  als  mekil  dyn  and  bost, 

Als  he  had  foghten  ogayns  an  ost. 

"  When  the  Sarsins  saw  this  meruail, 
Thai  wald  no  lenger  bede  batayl. 
Sum  wend,  for  the  merure  lyght, 
That  it  war  ane  angel  bright, 
That  God  had  sent  theder  perchance, 
On  tham  for  to  tak  vengance. 
So  mekil  light  the  merure  kast, 
That  the  Sarzins  fled  ful  fast.  2810 

The  maister  made  slike  nois  omell, 
Sum  hoped  he  war  the  fend  of  hell. 
Thai  war  so  temped  in  that  tyde, 
Thare  thai  durst  no  lenger  bide. 
Thai  opind  than  the  yates  of  Rome, 
And  Cristend  men  fast  efter  come. 
The  emperowre  and  his  men  ilkane 
Of  the  Sarezins  slogh  gode  wane ; 
Als  mani  als  thai  might  ouertake 
Fast  thai  gain  thaire  crownes  crake.  2820 

Thare  wan  the  Cristenmen  honowre, 
And  mekil  gold  and  gude  armowre  : 


110  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Thus-gat  Gemis  that  was  wise 
Wan  the  maystri  by  quaintise. 

"  The  maysters  of  Rome  and  buriayse 
Said  he  was  worthi  to  prayse, 
And  none  so  worthy  als  he 
Emperoure  of  Rome  to  be  : 
And  right  so,  by  thaire  aller  dome, 
Thai  made  him  emperoure  of  Rome. 

"  Sir,  thus  sail  thi  maisters  wise 
Decayue  the  with  thaire  quayntise ;  2830 

And  thou  mun  be  ful  fayn  may  fall 
On  knese  for  to  serue  tham  all. 
I  prai  to  God  it  might  be  so 
If  thou  more  traystes  tham  vnto, 
For  thai  er  nothing  els  obout, 
Bot  to  make  the  thaire  vnderlout : 
That  sal  men  se  ful  sone,  I  trow, 
And  thiself  sal  noght  wit  how,  2840 

Vntil  thou  lose  al  thine  honowre, 
And  sum  of  tham  be  emperoure. 
Yit  war  me  leuer  that  thai  so  ware 
Than  thi  son  that  greues  me  sare." 

Thus,  when  the  emperoure  herd  hir  speke, 
He  said  als  swith  he  sold  hir  wreke ; 
And  alsone  sold  his  sone  be  slayn. 
Sho  thanked  him  and  was  ful  fayn. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  Ill 

Than  out  of  chamber  gan  thai  pas. — 

Thus  hir  tale  endid  sho  has.  2850 

The  emperoure  than  went  to  hall  ; 
His  turmentowres  son  gert  he  call : 
He  bad  thai  sold  let  for  no  thing, 
His  son  with  scowrges  for  to  dyng ; 
And  when  that  thai  had  so-gates  done 
He  bad  he  sold  be  honged  sone  ; 
"  So  that  I  namore  him  se, 
For  mekil  meneyng  makes  he  me." 
The  childe  than  out  of  the  toun  thai  led, 
So  for-beten  that  he  bled  ;  2860 

And  right  als  thai  went  with  him  thus, 
So  com  maister  Maxencius. 
He  sese  his  scolere  him  bisyde : 
He  prays  the  folk  a  while  to  byde. 
A  while  thai  hight  to  dwel  thare  still. 
The  toun  ful  fast  he  hies  him  till. 

He  come  bifore  the  emperoure, 
And  hailsed  him  with  grete  honowre. 
He  sayd  :  "  Sir,  thou  ert  hy-iustise  : 
The  aght  wele  to  be  war  and  wise.  2870 

Methink  thou  wirkis,  to  thi  reproue, 
Onence  thi  son  that  thou  sold  loue  : 
For  a  day  wiltou  be  his  frende, 
Another  day  thou  wilt  him  shende  ; 
Al  day  mai  men  turn  thi  mode ; 
So  fares  foles  that  can  no  gode, 


112  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  namly  thai  that  dose  thaire  dede, 

Als  wikked  wemen  wil  tham  rede. 

Thou  trowes  ouerwele  thi  wiues  tale 

That  es  obout  to  brew  the  bale.  2880 

If  thi  son  til  to  morn  may  lif, 

For  nankins  gode  thou  wald  him  gif  j 

And  if  thou,  by  thi  wiues  rede, 

Ger  do  thi  sou  to  euil  dede, 

Swilk  a  chance  mot  fal  to  the 

Als  did  ane  erl  of  this  cuntre  ; 

He  trowed  mare  of  his  wife  a  leghe, 

Than  that  himself  saw  with  his  eghe." 

The  emperoure  sayd :  "  Methink  wele  than, 
That  he  was  no  witty  man  2890 

That  his  whife  wordes  trowed  sold  he 
Better  than  that  himself  might  se." 
u  Sir,  sayd  the  maister,  so  ertow  ; 
For  thi  whif  tales  wil  thou  trow 
Better  than  any  other  rede  ; 
And  sho  wald  ger  thi  son  be  ded. 
And,  if  he  haue  this  day  respite, 
Tomorn  he  sal  himseluen  quite  : 
Than  sal  thou  thiseluen  se 
Wha  haue  the  wrang,  thi  wife  or  he.M  2900 

The  emperoure  said,  "  Sir,  for  sertayn, 
That  wald  I  here  and  that  ful  fayn  : 
Tharfore,  maister,  I  th£  pray, 
That  ilk  tale  to  me  thou  say 
8 


THE  SEUYN   SAGES.  113 


Of  that  erl  that  thou  of  talde ; 
And,  sir,  he  said,  thou  mai  be  balde 
That  this  day  sal  my  son  noght  dy. 
The  mayster  sayd :  "  Sir,  gramercy !' 


THE  XIV.  TALE. 


THE  TWO   DREAMS. 


"  Lord,  said  the  maister,  this  es  no  ly : 
In  the  kingdom  of  Hungery  2910 

Wond  a  nobil  knight  whylom  ; 
A  rightwis  man  and  whise  of  dome. 
He  dremyd  thus  opon  a  nyght 
That  he  lufed  a  lady  bryght ; 
Bot  he  ne  wist  in  what  contre 
That  the  lady  might  funden  be  : 
Him  thoght  he  knew  hir  wele  bi  kinde, 
And  wele  he  hopid  he  sold  hir  finde. 
That  same  time  dremyd  that  ladi  bright, 
And  thoght  that  sho  sold  luf  a  knight ;  2920 

Bot  sho  wist  noght  of  what  land, 
Ne  in  whate  stede  he  was  dweland. 

vol.  in.  H 


114  THE  SEUYN- SAGES. 

Ne  his  name  knew  she  na  thing  ; 

Tharfore  made  sho  grete  murnyng. 

Opon  the  morn,  the  stori  sayse, 

The  knight  toke  horses  and  hernays, 

And  went  to  seke  that  lady  bright, 

That  him  dremyd  of  that  nyght. 

That  iomay  vnto  him  was  hard, 

For  he  wist  noght  whederward  2930 

That  he  sold  tak  the  redy  way ; 

Tharfore  he  drowped  night  and  day. 

So  he  traueld  monethes  thre, 

And  no  signe  of  hyr  kowth  he  se, 

Bot  wele  in  hert  he  hoped  ay 

That  he  sold  hir  se  sum  day. 

"  So  fer  the  knyght  his  way  had  nomen, 
That  into  Hungeri  he  cumen  ; 
Thare  he  findes  a  faire  castele, 
Bi  the  se-syde,  wroght  ful  wele  :  2940 

Tharin  stode  a  towre  ful  hee  ; 
Fairer  saw  he  neuer  with  ee 
An  erl  wond  in  that  castele 
That  aght  the  lordship  ilkadele. 
With  him  he  had  a  worthly  wife, 
The  fairest  lady  that  had  lyfe. 
The  erl  was  ieluse  of  that  lady. 
He  sperid  hir  in  the  toure  forthi. 
Sho  might  noght  out  bi  day  ne  night, 
To  speke  with  swier  ne  with  knight.  29-30 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  115 

In  that  land  was  were  ful  Strang 

Of  kinges  and  lordes,  that  lasted  lang. 

Thare  come  ridand  that  nobil  knight, 

That  so  had  soght  the  lady  bright ; 

He  hiked  vp  vnto  the  toure, 

And  saw  the  lady,  white  so  flowre, 

Ligge  in  a  window  barred  with  stele; 

Than  in  his  hert  he  wist  ful  wele 

That  this  lady  was  the  same 

That  he  had  so  dremyd  of  at  hame  :  £960 

He  luked  vp  vnto  the  toure, 

And  meriiy  sang  he  of  amowre. 

"  And  when  sho  herd  him  so  bigyn, 
Vnnethes  might  that  lady  blyn, 
That  sho  ne  had  cald  him  hir  vnto  ; 
Bot  for  hir  lord  sho  durst  noght  do. 
He  gat  biside,  vnder  a  tre, 
At  the  ches,  a  knyght  and  he. 
This  knyght  percayued  the  erl  thare  ; 
Vnto  the  lady  he  mened  namare  :  £970 

Bot  til  the  erl  he  rides  ful  right, 
And  of  his  palfray  down  he  lyght ; 
On  his  kne  sone  he  him  set, 
And  the  erl  ful  faire  he  gret. 
"  Sir  erl,  he  said,  I  am  a  knight, 
Out  of  my  cuntre  cumen  for  fight : 
Theder  ogayn  dar  I  noght  gane, 
For  a  knight  thare  haue  I  slane : 


116  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Tharfore,  sir,  if  thi  willes  be, 

Thus  am  I  cunien  to  dwel  with  the.  2980 

My  famen  er  ml  steren  and  stout, 

Thai  haue  destroyed  my  landes  obout." 

u  The  erl  said :  "  So  mot  I  the 
Right  so  fares  my  famen  with  me, 
So  that  I  haue  no  socoure 
Bot  this  castel  and  this  toure  : 
Tharfore,  sir,  thou  ert  welkum  here, 
Of  swilk  a  man  haue  I  mystere ; 
And  if  thou  wil  me  help  trewly, 
I  sal  the  gif  grete  mede  for  thy."  299^ 

"  Yis,  sir,  he  sayd,  at  my  power, 
Ay,  whils  I  my  armes  bere!" 
With  the  erl  thus  dwels  the  knight, 
Al  for  luf  of  the  lady  bryght 
Thar  was  na  knight  that  bare  shelde, 
That  might  so  wele  his  wapen  welde : 
Thorgh  strenkith  of  hand  and  Godes  grace, 
He  ouercome  al  the  erles  fase. 
The  erl  him  lufed  and  honourd  than 
Mare  than  any  other  man  ;  3000 

He  made  him  steward  of  al  his  land, 
And  bad  the  men  bow  til  hys  hand. 

"  Sone  efter  that,  opon  a  day, 
The  knyght  allane  went  him  to  play, 
Vnder  the  toure  whare  the  lady  was  : 
There  he  made  him  grete  solace. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  117 

The  lady  in  a  wyndow  lay, 

And  saw  the  knyght  allane  him  play. 

A  letter  sone  sho  kest  him  tyll, 

Wherby  he  might  wit  al  hir  will.  3010 

The  knight  toke  vp  the  parchemyne, 

And  red  the  Franche,  ful  fayre  and  fyne ; 

And  alsone  als  he  red  it  had, 

Was  he  neuer  in  hert  so  glad. 

By  that  letter  the  knyght  wele  kend, 

That  his  trauayl  was  cumen  till  end. 

Ful  sare  him  langed  to  hyr  at  ga 

Priuely,  withowten  ma  ; 

And  wele  he  saw,  that  by  na  gyn 

Allane  to  hir  myght  he  noght  wyn.  3020 

Thar  was  bot  a  dur  and  a  way, 

And  tharof  bare  the  erl  the  kay» 

"  So  on  a  day,  with  mylde  worde, 
The  knyght  spekes  vnto  hys  lord, 
And  said,  "  Sir,  of  thi  gude  grace, 
I  pray  the  to  gif  me  a  place 
Bifor  this  towre  that  I  may  big 
A  litel  place,  in  forto  lig  ; 
And  that  I  may  my  wonyng  haue, 
.At  myne  ese,  if  ye  vowchesaue."  3030 

The  erl  answerd  him  ful  sone : 
"  Sir,  thi  wil  sal  al  be  done  : 
Big  the  a  hows,  at  thi  lykyng." 
The  knight  him  thanked  of  that  thing* 


IIS  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

The  knyght  gat  masons  many  ane, 

And  grat  tham  hew  ful  faire  fre-stane  : 

A  nobil  hows  thare  gert  he  make, 

Ful  sone,  for  the  lady  sake. 

When  it  was  wroght  als  it  sold  be, 

Bath  of  stane  and  als  of  tre,  3040 

Than  thoght  he  euer  by  what  kyn  gin, 

That  he  moght  to  the  lady  win. 

"  Biside  thare,  in  another  town, 
Was  thare  cumen  a  new  masown, 
That  soght  had  fra  fer  cuntre  ; 
Sotiler  man  might  none  be. 
The  knyght  vnto  that  mason  sent ; 
His  messangers  wightly  war  went, 
That  broght  him  to  the  knyght  in  hy. 
He  hailsed  him  ful  curtaysly.  3050 

The  knight  said  :  "  May  I  traist  in  the 
For  to  tel  my  preuete 
That  I  haue  aghteld  for  to  do  r" 
The  mason  sware  grete  athes  him  to, 
That  he  sold  [do]  whatsom  he  wolde, 
And  neuer  tel  man  on  this  molde. 

"  He  said :  "  In  this  tour,  I  tel  the, 
Wons  a  lady  that  lufes  me, 
And  I  luf  hir  wele  at  my  might ; 
Bot  I  may,  nowther  day  ne  night,  3060 

Til  hir  win  ne  with  hir  speke  : 
Tharfore  a  hole  bihoues  the  breke 

8 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES*  119 

In  this  towre,  ful  preuely, 

That  no  man  wit  bot  thou  and  I ; 

That  I  may  cum,  in  priuete, 

Vnto  the  lady  and  sho  to  me." 

"  Sertes,  sir,  said  the  mason  sone, 

Als  thou  has  said  it  sal  be  done." 

Hastily  he  takes  hys  tole, 

And  in  the  tour  he  made  a  hole,  3070 

That  the  knight  might  cum  the  lady  vntill, 

Night  and  day,  at  thair  owyn  will. 

When  the  lady  wist  of  this 

Hir  thoght  hir  hert  was  ful  of  blis. 

The  knyght  quit  wele  the  seruise 

Of  the  mason  for  his  quayntise  ; 

He  slogh  him  sone  that  ilk  day, 

Forfered  that  he  sold  oght  say. 

"  And  afterward,  ful  sone  onane, 
Into  the  toure  the  knight  gan  gane,  3080 

Thurgh  the  hole  gan  he  pas, 
Til  he  come  whare  the  lady  was. 
Bitwene  tham  was  grete  ioy  and  blis ; 
In  amies,  ful  curtaysly,  thai  kys  : 
Wele  sho  wist  it  was  that  knyght 
That  sho  had  dremyd  of  anVght. 
Sho  said,  "  Sir,  thou  ert  welkum  here." 
He  said,  "  Gramercy,  lady  dere  !" 
To  hir  he  talde  of  his  dremeing, 
And  sho  him  talde  of  the  same  thing  ;  3090 


120  THE  SEXJYN  SAGES. 

And  when  thai  wist  it  was  sertayn 
Ayther  of  other  was  ful  fayn. 
Sho  lete  him  wirk  thar  al  his  will, 
And  sethen  he  said  the  lady  vntyll, 
"  Dame,  I  dar  no  lenger  byde, 
For  herein  may  thou  me  noght  hide  ; 
And  tharfore,  dame,  haue  now  goday  : 
I  sal  cum  ogayn  when  1  may." 

"  The  lady,  at  thaire  departyng, 
Gaf  the  knight  a  gude  gold  ring,  3100 

And  said,  "  Sir,  I  pray  to  the, 
When  thou  sese  this  thinke  on  me." 
At  the  lady  the  ryng  he  hase, 
And  graythly  til  the  hole  he  gase. 
The  ring  he  put  his  fynger  on, 
And  doun  ogayn  he  hied  him  sone, 
Thurgh  the  hole  was  made  of  stane  : 
A  meri  man  the  knight  was  ane. 
The  knyght  went  into  the  hall 
Vnto  the  erl,  and  his  menye  all.  3110 

The  erl  gert  him  sit  ful  nere, 
And  to  hym  made  he  meri  chere. 
Als  thai  spak  of  diuers  thing 
The  erl  saw  his  whiues  ring 
Opon  the  knyghtes  fynger  bare. 
He  had  wonder  how  it  was  thai  e ; 
He  wist  wele  thar  was  none  slike, 
Ne  that  none  might  be  made  so  like, 


THE  SETJYN  SAGES.  121 

And  euer  he  thinkes,  in  hert  styll, 

How  ani  man  might  come  her  till,  3120 

Styl  he  held  al  in  his  thoght ; 

Vnto  the  knyght  he  sayd  right  noght, 

Bot  vp  he  rase  bilyue  onane  ; 

Vnto  his  whyfe  he  thoght  to  gane, 

For  to  wit  whare  hir  ring  was. 

The  knight  perzayued  al  the  case ; 

He  hies,  als  fast  als  he  may, 

Tite  vntil  hys  priue  way. 

"  The  erl  hies  to  the  lady  fre, 
Bot  the  knyght  come  lang  or  he  ;  3130 

Vnto  the  lady  the  ring  he  cast, 
And  doun  ogayn  he  hies  him  fast. 
The  lady  has  the  ring  uphent ; 
Sho  wist  ful  wele  than  how  it  went. 
Sho  did  it  in  hir  purs  in  horde, 
And  sone  tharefter  come  hir  lorde ; 
And  with  gude  chere  he  gan  hir  glade, 
And  asked  hyr  what  chere  sho  made. 
Sho  said,  sho  myght  haue  no  solace, 
So  was  sho  prisond  in  that  place,  3140 

Fra  the  sight  of  alkins  men ; — 
"  How  may  I  any  kumforth  ken?" 
"  Dame,  said  the  erl  ful  sone, 
For  grete  derenes  es  yt  done, 
And,  for  I  wil  nane  change  thi  thoght/' 
The  lady  said,  "  Sir,  thinkes  it  noght ; 


122  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Thare  es  no  knight  in  no  cimtr& 

That  might  change  my  luf  for  the  ; 

And  sen  ye  wil  that  it  be  thus, 

At  yowre  lyking  habide  me  bus  ;  3150 

For  other  cumforth  kepe  I  nane 

Bot  of  God  and  of  yow  allane." 

a  The  erl  thoght  yit  on  other  thing ; 
"  Dame,  he  said,  whare  es  thi  ring 
That  I  the  gaue  of  gold  ful  fyne  : 
Lat  me  se  it,  leman  myne." 
The  lady  answerd  hym  vnto : 
(t  Sir,  what  sal  ye  tharwith  do  ? 
Wene  ye  that  it  be  oway 

For  I  were  it  noght  ilk  day  ?  31 60 

Nai,  sir,  dredes  yow  neuer  a  dele, 
For  I  sal  yeme  it  wonder  wele." 
"  Dame,  he  sayd,  for  luf  of  me, 
A  sight  tharof  that  I  might  se  ; 
And,  sertes,  I  ask  it  for  none  ill." 
Sho  said,  "  Sir,  gladly,  at  yowre  will." 
Out  of  hir  purs  the  ring  sho  toke. 
The  lord  gan  graythly  on  hir  loke. 
"  Lo !  sir,  sho  said,  here  is  my  ring." 
The  erl  had  meruail  of  this  thing,  3170 

That  it  was  like,  by  sight, 
The  ring  that  he  saw  of  this  knight. 
Bot  wele  he  hopid  and  weterly, 
That  nane  might  win  to  the  lady; 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  123 

Ne  that  hir  ring  was  noght  hir  fra, 
Bot  that  thai  had  bene  like  thai  twa. 

"  He  was  wele  solast  of  that  sight, 
And  thare  he  dwelled  al  that  night. 
The  lady  bi  hirself  oft  smyled, 
And  thoght  that  he  was  wele  bigild.  3180 

Opon  the  morn  the  knyght  vprase, 
And  to  the  kirk  graythly  he  gase, 
Goddes  werkes  thare  for  to  wirk. 
Sethen  com  the  erl  vnto  the  kyrk, 
A  mes  ful  sone  than  gert  he  sing, 
In  honowre  of  oure  heuyn  kyng. 
The  erl  sent  than,  hastily, 
Efter  the  knyght  of  Hungery. 
The  knyght  com  sone  the  erl  vntill. 
The  erl  said,  "  Sire,  if  thou  will,  3190 

Thou  sal  wend  to  wod  with  me 
At  hunt  and  solace  for  to  be." 

"  The  knyght  answerd  wordes  hende, 
"  Sir,  to  wod  may  I  noght  wende  ; 
For  me  es  cumen  new  tithand 
That  makes  me  ful  wele  lyk&nd, 
Fra  my  cuntr£,  withowten  lese, 
That  my  frendes  haues  made  mi  pese 
For  that  knight  that  I  haue  slayn ; 
And  of  thir  tythandes  am  I  fayn  :  3200 

And,  sir,  this  tythandes  es  me  broght 
Bi  my  leman,  that  has  me  soght, 


124  THE  SKUYN  SAGES. 

Heder,  owt  of  myne  awin  cuntr£. 

Tharfore,  sir,  if  yowre  wil  be, 

This  day  I  pray  yow  with  me  ete, 

And  se  my  leman  at  the  mete, 

And  for  to  make  cumforth  hir  till." 

The  erl  said,  "  Gladly,  I  will 

Do  al  the  cumforth  that  I  can, 

Bath  to  the  and  thi  leman ;  •     3210) 

When  so  thou  will  send  efter  me, 

And  smertly  sal  I  cum  to  the." 

"  Than  went  the  erl  to  his  solace, 
Vnto  the  wod  to  mak  his  chace  ; 
And  the  knight  went  sone  onane, 
And  ordand  mete  and  drink  gud  wane. 
His  hows  he  dight  on  gude  aray ; 
And  smertly  than  he  toke  the  way 
Vnto  the  lady  faire  and  bright, 
And  gert  that  sho  war  gayly  dyght,  3220 

In  gold  garmentes,  richely  wroght, 
And  talde  hir  al  how  he  has  thoght 
That  ilk  day  sho  and  hir  lord 
Sold  bath  togeder  et  of  a  bord  ; 
And  how  hir  lord  sold  vnderstand 
That  sho  war  cumen  out  of  fer  land. 
Down  he  broght  hir  til  his  hows, 
Hamely  als  sho  war  his  spows : 
Bot  hir  garmentes  war  al  new, 
That  no  man  in  that  cuntre  knew.  3230 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  125 

Opon  hir  fingers  gert  he  done 
Gold  ringes  ful  many  one  ; 
Hir  hed  was  gayly  dubed  and  dyght 
With  gerlandes  al  of  gold  ful  bright. 
So  out  of  kenyng  he  hir  bioght, 
That  hir  lord  than  knew  hir  noght. 

"  Fra  hunting  come  the  erl  in  hi ; 
The  knyght  him  keped  ful  curtaysly, 
And  til  his  hows  he  led  him  than, 
For  to  ett  with  his  leman.  3240 

Redy  was  ordaynd  and  dyght 
Mete  and  drink  for  mani  a  knight ; 
Vnto  the  bord  the  erl  es  set, 
And  his  whif  with  him  to  et. 
The  knight  said,  "  This  es  my  leman  : 

Makes  hir  comforth  if  ye  can." 

The  erl  bad  sho  sold  be  blith  ; 

And  he  biheld  hir  mony  a  syth, 

And  wonder  in  his  hert  had  he 

How  that  it  so  myght  be,  3250 

That  any  lady,  in  this  life, 

Might  be  so  like  his  owin  wyfe. 

The  lady  prayed  him  blith  to  be, 

And  eit  gladly,  par  charitt. 

The  erl  bad  hir  also  be  glad, 

And  loked  on  hir  als  he  war  mad. 

Bot  lie  tho^ht  the  towre  was  so  Strang, 

That  thare  myght  no  man  do  him  wrang, 


126  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Ne  that  his  whif  might  noght  cum  doun  ; 
Tharfore  trowed  he  no  tresowne.  3260 

He  thoght,  "  Oftsythes  bifalles  slike 
That  mani  wemen  er  other  like, 
Als  was  the  ring  of  gold  fyne 
That  I  wend  wele  had  bene  myne." 

"  Thus  the  erl  left  al  his  care  ; 
Of  this  mater  he  thinkes  nomare. 
Than  said  the  knight  on  this  manere 
Vnto  the  erl ;  "  Sir,  mase  gude  chere." 
The  erl  said,  "  Sire,  I  th£  pray 
The  sertan  soth  that  thou  me  say  :  3270 

Wheym  es  this  faire  lady 
That  thou  hes  set  at  met  me  by  ?" 
The  knight  said,  "  Sir,  bi  my  lewt&, 
Sho  es  cumen  from  myne  awyn  cuntr£ ! 
Sho  es  my  leman  that  has  me  soght, 
And  new  tythandes  sho  haues  me  broght. 
Mi  pese  es  made  for  euer  mare 
For  the  knight  that  I  slogh  thare  : 
So  that  I  may  wend,  hardily, 
Hame  ogayn  my  pese  to  cri ;  3280 

And  tharfore  wil  I  with  hir  wende 
For  to  speke  with  ilka  frende." 
"  Sir,  sekerly,  said  the  erl  than, 
Methink  thou  has  a  fayre  leman." 

"  Whan  thai  had  eten  and  dronken  inoughe, 
Thai  toke  vp  mete  and  clathes  drogh. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  127 

When  the  erl  liked  to  gane, 

He  toke  leue  at  the  knyghtes  leman  ; 

And  hastily  when  he  was  went, 

The  knight  and  the  lady  gent  3290 

Sone  did  of  the  riche  aray, 

That  thai  had  done  on  that  day. 

Hir  awyn  robe  sone  did  thai  on, 

And  dighted  hir  als  sho  was  won  ; 

And  than  sho  toke  the  priue  sty. 

Into  the  toure,  ful  hastily. 

The  knight  gan  playnly  with  hir  pas 

Vntil  sho  in  hir  chamber  was. 

And  vnnethes  was  the  knyght  went  out 

When  the  erl  was  gane  obowt ;  3300 

Vnto  the  toure  he  takes  the  way, 

Als  hastily  als  euer  he  may. 

Thare  he  flndes  his  lady 

Keped  him  ful  curtaysely. 

'*  Than  was  the  erl  in  hert  ful  glad, 
Whan  he  wist  that  he  hir  had. 
Him  thoght  yit  sho  was  like  fully 
To  the  lady  that  sat  him  by, 
Thare  the  erl  dwelled  al  nyght, 
And  laiked  him  with  his  lady  bright.  3310 

That  night  thai  wroght  what  thaire  wils  ware, 
And  on  that  wise  thai  met  namare. 
Herkens  now  how  it  bifell ! 
On  this  maner  stode  that  castell 


i28  THE   SEUYN    SAGES. 

That  the  se  ran  fast  byside  : 

Many  gode  shippes  gan  thare  bide. 

Whils  the  erl  of  grete  honowre 

Lay  with  the  lady  in  the  towre, 

The  knight  ordand  a  ship  of  sail, 

And  gert  bere  theder  gude  vetaille.  3320 

Al  his  gode  theder  gert  he  bere, 

Gold  and  siluer  and  other  gere. 

"  On  the  morn  the  erl  forth  gase, 
And  left  his  lady  in  that  plase  ; 
Vntil  the  kirk  than  went  he  sone, 
And  herd  his  mes  als  he  was  wone. 
And  when  he  to  the  kirk  was  gane, 
The  knyght  went  to  the  towre  onane, 
And  down  he  broght  the  fay  re  lady, 
Into  his  hows  ful  priuely,  3330 

And  of  thai  toke  the  clathes  sone 
That  the  lady  had  hir  on. 
Thai  dight  hir  in  the  garmentes  gay 
That  sho  had  on  that  other  day ; 
With  gerlandes  and  with  gleterand  thing 
Was  sho  made  out  of  knawyng. 

"  When  al  was  done  als  it  sold  be 
Vnto  the  erl  his  lord  went  he. 
"  Sir,  he  sayd,  I  wald  the  pray 
Of  a  ded  this  ilk  day,  3340 

That  thou  wil  gif  me,  with  thi  hand, 
My  leman  or  1  pas  thi  lond, 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  129 

That  I  mai  wed  hir  to  my  whife  ; 

For  with  hir  wil  I  lede  my  lyfe." 

He  sayd  he  thoght  to  wed  hir  than 

That  had  byfore  bene  his  leman, 

For  lufe  of  God,  and  als  for  drede, 

And  for  he  sold  the  better  spede. 

The  erl  said  that  es  gude  scill, 

And  als  thou  sais,  syr,  do  I  will.  3350 

"  Sone  the  erl  cals  knyghtes  twa, 
And  bad  tham  sone  that  thai  sold  ga, 
And  feche  the  lady  vnto  the  kirk. 
Thai  war  redy  his  wil  to  wirk. 
To  kirk  thai  led  that  faire  lady ; 
A  prieste  was  reuist  hastily. 
The  erl  come  with  meri  chere, 
Omang  al  that  folk  in  fere  ; 
His  owin  lady  he  toke  byliue, 
And  gaf  the  knyght  vntil  his  wiue.  336ft 

The  prest  tham  weddes  swith  sone, 
And  als  tite  als  the  mes  was  done, 
Than  was  thare  made  grete  menestrelsy, 
And  the  knight  and  his  lady 
Went  tham  forth,  with  grete  solas, 
To  the  ship  whare  his  godes  in  was. 
The  erl  went  with  tham  thartill : 
The  knight  went  yn  with  ful  gude  will 

The  lady  stode  still  on  the  sand ; 
The  erl  toke  hir  by  the  hand,  3370 

VOL.  III.  i 


130  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

And  bad  the  knyght  he  sold  hir  take, 

Euermare  to  be  his  make. 

Thare  the  knyght  toke  the  lady, 

And  said  to  the  erl  :  "  Sir,  gramercy 

Of  this  and  al  other  grace  !" 

Thus  of  the  erl  hys  leue  he  tase. 

The  wind  blew,  thai  went  thair  way : 

Thus  lost  the  erl  his  whife  for  ay  ; 

He  gaf  hir  thus  the  knyght  to  wed  : 

Tharfore  ful  sari  life  he  led.  3380 

When  the  knight  was  went  with  the  lady, 
The  erl  wendes  hame  hastily  ; 
Vntil  the  toure  the  way  he  tase, 
To  tel  his  lady  how  it  was, 
And  how  he  had  his  knyght  conuayd  : 
He  trowed  noght  how  he  was  bitraid. 
Vntil  his  toure  thus  wendes  he  right 
For  to  speke  with  his  lady  bright, 
Into  the  chameber  gan  he  ga, 
And  loked  obout,  bath  to  and  fra  ;  3390 

He  saw  no  S)ght  of  his  lady  ; 
Tharfore  sone  he  wex  sary. 
Of  hir  cowth  he  nothing  here  ; 
Than  he  wepid  with  sari  chere. 
Vnto  himself  he  gan  him  mene 
That  al  was  soth  als  he  had  sene  ; 
Than  wist  he  it  was  his  lady 
That  at  the  mete  was  set  him  by  : 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  131 

To  wax  wise  than  he  began  ; 

Tharfore  blamed  him  moni  a  man."  3400 

Than  the  maister  Maxencius 
Vnto  the  emperoure  said  thus  : 
"  On  this  wise  dose  thou,  sir,  said  he, 
When  thi  whif  spekes  to  the 
Thou  trowes  hir  tales,  day  and  nyght, 
Better  than  that  thou  sese  in  sight. 
And,  sir,  he  said,  that  this  soth  be, 
To  morn  thou  sal  wele  here  and  se 
Who  has  the  wrang  in  al  this  strife, 
Whether  thi  son  or  thi  wife.  3410 

For  to-morn  thi  son  sal  speke  ; 
Than  hope  I  wele  thou  will  him  wreke." 
The  emperowre  sais,  "  Bi  my  swire, 
Sir,  that  war  my  moste  desire  : 
If  I  may  whit  who  has  the  right, 
It  sal  be  venged  at  mi  might, " 
Than  the  maister  wendes  his  way  ; 
Thus  was  the  childe  saued  that  day. 

The  emperice  than  was  ful  wa, 
That  the  childe  was  saued  swa  ;  3420 

For  wel  sho  wist  hir  was  na  bote 
Of  that  mater  more  to  mote. 

The  emperoure  than,  al  that  night, 
In  his  hert  he  was  ful  lyght  j 


132  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Bot  the  emperice  had  mekil  sorow, 

For  the  childe  sold  speke  at  morow. 

The  emperoure  lay  in  gude  pese ; 

Him  for  to  preche  wald  sho  noght  presc. 

On  the  morn  the  emperoure 

Went  to  kirk  with  grete  honowre,  3430 

With  many  knytes  of  his  menye, 

And  al  the  burias  of  that  cete\ 

Burias  wiues  and  maidens  bright, 

Wele  araid  and  richely  dyght, 

To  court  thai  come  with  ful  gude  chere, 

The  child  speche  for  thai  wald  here. 

The  seuyn  maisters  euerilkane 

Come  vnto  the  court  onane. 

Smertly  when  the  mes  was  done, 
The  emperoure  him  hasted  sone,  3440 

Til  a  faire  place  he  made  him  boun, 
And  bad  the  folk  thai  sold  syt  down. 
Sone  he  cald  the  maisters  seuyn, 
And  twa  he  gan  bi  names  neuyn, 
And  bad  tham  fech  his  sone  forth  sone. 
His  cumandment  bilyue  was  done  ; 
Thai  went  to  presowne  with  gude  will, 
And  broght  the  childe  his  fader  vntill  : 
Ful  klenly  was  he  cled  and  dyght, 
Bot  he  was  lene  and  febil  of  myght.  3450 

The  childe  was  set  in  middes  the  place, 
Right  before  his  fader  face. 
8 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  133 

The  folk  made  mikil  noys  and  shrill ; 

Tharfore  the  childe  yit  held  him  still. 

He  thanked  God  of  his  gude  grace, 

Whils  thai  made  pese  in  that  place. 

Than  stode  the  child  vp  sone  onane, 

Bifore  his  fader  and  the  folk  ilkane  ; 

He  bowed  him  ful  bowsumly, 

And  of  his  fader  asked  mercy.  3460 

He  said,  "  Sir,  ye  er  wrethed  wrang  ; 

That  sal  ye  wit  wele  or  I  gang. 

The  wiked  wil,  sir,  of  yowre  wife 

Has  made  me  al  this  mekil  strif ; 

For  sho  had  made,  thurgh  sorceri, 

Thing  that  I  sold  haue  bene  ded  by. 

I  saw  in  the  mone  and  sternes  all, 

How  that  sold  of  me  bifall, 

That,  had  I  spoken  with  any  man, 

To  seuyn  days  war  cumen  and  gane,  3470 

My  hert  sold  sone  haue  broken  asonder ; 

Than  had  my  maysters  bene  al  under. 

And,  for  my  maisters,  that  me  yemed, 

For  my  sake  sold  noght  be  flemed, 

Tharfore,  sir,  I  held  me  still, 

And  sofferd  what  men  did  me  till. 

"  Bot,  fader,  he  said,  it  fars  of  the, 
And  right  so  haues  thou  done  with  me, 
Als  did  a  gude  man,  here  bi  west, 
That  his  son  in  the  se  kest,  3480 


134  THE   SEUYN  SAGES. 

For  he  said  he  sold  be,  by  grace, 

Richer  man  than  euer  he  was." 

The  emperoure  said,  "  So  haue  I  sele, 

Son,  thi  wordes  payes  me  wel ; 

Tharfore,  son,  for  my  benzown, 

Tel  vs  al  now  that  resown, 

Thi  maisters  has  al  tald,  for  the, 

Tales  that  ful  wele  liked  me  : 

Bot,  sone,  a  tale  of  the  allane 

Wil  like  me  mare  than  thai  ilkane  :  3490 

Tharfore  thi  tale  thou  tell  vs  till." 

He  said,  "  Sir,  gladly,  at  yowre  will. 


THE  XV.  TALE. 


THE  RAVENS. 


"  Syr,  he  said,  in  this  cuntre 
Wond  a  man,  curtays  and  fre  ; 
He  had  a  son  was  wise  and  balde, 
Of  fully  fiften  winters  aide. 
Opon  a  day,  in  somers  tyde, 
The  gudeman  went  by  the  se-svde  : 


THE  SEUYN   SAGES.  135 

He  had  a  ship  that  new  was  wroght; 

He  bad  the  mayster  it  sold  be  broght  3500 

A  mile  or  twa  opon  the  se, 

And  himself  tharin  wald  be. 

He  toke  his  son,  als  ye  may  here, 

And  went  to  ship,  thai  bath  in  fere ; 

Thai  war  in  will  tham  to  solas, 

In  an  yle  that  in  the  se  was. 

"  Als  thai  thederward  gan  wende, 
Twa  ravenes,  on  thaire  shippes  ende, 
Cried  on  tham,  loude  and  shill, 
And  ouer  thaire  ship  thai  honed  still  :  3510 

Than  said  the  fader,  with  hert  fre, 
"  Son,  what  may  al  this  noys  be, 
That  thise  rauens  thusgat  cri  ? 
Whateuer  sal  it  sygnyfy  ?" 

"  The  child  was  of  wit  ful  klene  : 
He  said,  "  I  wot  wele  what  thai  me[ne] : 
Thir  twa  rauens  says,  in  thaire  steuyn, 
That,  thurgh  the  help  of  God  of  heuyn, 
I  sal  be  of  so  grete  powste, 

Fader,  that  thou  sal  noght  knaw  me  ;  3520 

And  if  I  wil  it  soffer,  sertayn, 
Fader,  thou  sal  be  ful  fayne 
For  to  hald  my  kapes  sleue, 
Whils  I  washs  :  this  may  ye  leue. 
And  more  yit  says  the  rauens  twa, 
That  my  moder  sal  alswa 


136  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 

Be  ful  fayn  to  hald  the  clathe 

Whills  my  handes  be  wyped  bathe." 

When  the  fader  herd  how  he  sayd, 

Of  his  wordes  he  was  noght  payd  ;  3530 

And  til  his  son  than  gan  he  say : 

"  The  crakes  sal  ly  if  I  may ! 

What,  son,  he  said,  couaites  thou 

To  be  richer  than  I  am  now  ? 

Nay,  sertes,  it  sal  noght  be  swa, 

Whils  that  I  may  ride  and  ga  !" 

His  semly  son  than  hentes  he, 

And  kest  him  sone  into  the  se. 

He  turned  the  ship,  with  eger  mode  ; 

The  child  net  forth  in  the  node.  3540 

"  The  fader  bade  the  rauens  him  take, 
And  with  his  bodi  meri  make  ; 
And  hastly  went  he  hame  ogayne  : 
Ful  wele  he  wend  his  son  war  slaine. 
The  child  swam  forth  in  the  se  ; 
On  God  in  heuyn  ay  thinkes  he, 
And  specially  he  praied  him  till 
To  help  him,  if  it  war  his  will  : 
And  God  of  heuyn,  of  his  grete  grace, 
Made  him  to  riue  vp  in  a  place,  3550 

Opon  an  ile  thare  in  the  se  ; 
Ful  ioyful  than  in  hert  was  he. 
The  childe  yede  vpon  the  land, 
And  thanked  Jesu  of  his  sand. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  137 

In  that  land  he  lifed  allane  ; 
Four  daies  mete  ete  he  nane. 

"  He  herd  the  fowles  speke  him  till 
And  said,  "  Childe,  gif  the  noght  ill  ! 
Jesu  wil  the  help  in  haste  ; 

Thi  mischefe  es  now  althermaste."  3560 

The  childe  knew  wele  the  fowles  sang  ; 
He  thanked  God  graithly  omang ; 
He  vnderstode  al  fowles  language, 
Bathe  yn  wod  and  als  in  cage. 
Thai  sang  him  cumfort  wonder  wele, 
For  he  wist  thaire  mening  ilk  dele. 

"  The  fift  day  than  come  sayland 
A  fissher-bote  biside  the  land. 
Of  that  sight  ful  fayn  was  he, 
And  fast  he  hies  iiim  to  the  se.  3570 

"  Help  me,  sir,  thus  gan  he  cri, 
For  Jesu  luf  and  milde  Mari  !M 
The  fisscher  saw  the  childe  allane, 
And  vnto  him  he  rowed  onane  ; 
And  sone  when  he  come  to  the  childe, 
He  spak  to  him  with  wordes  milde  : 
"  Frely,  childe,  what  dose  thou  here  ?" 
Than  said  the  childe  with  simpil  chere, 
"  Sir,  help  that  I  war  in  thi  bate, 
And  I  sal  tel  the  al  my  state."  3580 

Intil  his  bate  he  gan  him  bring, 
And  than  he  talde  him  his  asking, 


138  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 

How  his  fader  kest  him  in  the  se 
For  he  said  that  he  sold  be 
Gretter  of  myght,  by  Goddes  grace, 
And  richer  than  his  fader  was, 
And  how  he  swam  into  that  yle, 
Al  he  talde  him  in  that  whyle. 

"  The  fissher  thoght  of  hym  pete  : 
"  Childe,  he  said,  I  sal  bring  the  3,590 

Vntil  a  kastel  here  nere  hand, 
Vnto  the  kinges  steward  of  this  land. 
Thare  sal  thou  play  and  men  make." 
The  childe  said,  "  For  Jesu  sake, 
Bring  me,  if  it  be  thi  will, 
Thare  I  may  ette  and  drink  my  fill." 
Sone  thai  come  to  the  castele, 
Where  the  fissher  was  knawen  wele. 
He  said  the  childe  I  vnderstand 
Vntil  the  steward  of  that  land.  3600 

The  steward  was  of  hym  ful  fayn  ; 
He  saw  neuer  fayrer,  for  sertayne ; 
He  was  ful  cumly  on  to  call, 
Fay  re  and  curtays  euer  with  all. 
The  childe  wex  and  wele  gan  thryue  ; 
The  steward  lufed  hym  als  his  lyue. 

"  In  that  land  than  was  a  king, 
That  had  grete  thoght  and  made  mornyng, 
For  thre  rauens  that  cried  on  him  ay, 
In  kirk,  in  hall,  in  ilka  way,  36 10 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  139 

Whare  so  he  sold  ryde  or  gane, 

Tha  rauens  cried  euer  onane : 

Opon  the  king  ay  gan  thai  cry. 

His  folk  tharof  had  grete  ferly ; 

And  al  the  men  of  ilk  cuntre, 

Had  grete  selkuth  that  sight  to  se. 

The  king  in  no  place  [might]  haue  pese, 

For  of  thair  noyse  wald  thai  neuer  sese, 

Nowther  for  bow  ne  for  sling : 

No  man  might  tham  oway  bring.  3620 

"  The  king  wald  fayn  oway  tham  wyn, 
Bot  he  wist  noght  how  to  bygyn. 
Efter  his  barnage  has  he  sent, 
And  gert  ordayn  a  grete  parlement, 
For  to  wit  encheson  why 
That  the  rauens  made  slike  cri ; 
For  wele  he  trowed  tham  al  omell, 
That  som  wise  man  sold  him  tell. 
When  his  barons  wist  his  will 
Hastily  thai  come  him  till ;  3630 

Al  the  lordes,  on  ilka  syde, 
Com  vnto  the  courte  that  tide. 
The  steward  that  had  the  childe  in  keping, 
Said  he  wald  wend  vnto  the  king> 
If  he  myght  here  of  any  man 
That  the  king  wele  tell  can, 
Why  thre  rauens  opon  him  cry, 
And  what  that  it  might  signyfy. 


140  THE  SETJYN  SAGES. 

"  Sir,  said  the  child,  par  charite, 

Wiltou  lat  me  wend  with  the  ? "  S640 

The  steward  said,  "  Sen  thou  wil  swa, 

Gladly  saltou  with  me  ga  : 

The  kinges  wil,  son,  saltow  here, 

And  sum  gude  thare  may  thou  lere." 

H  The  steward  wendes,  the  childe  alswa, 
And  with  tham  other  many  ma. 
Vnto  the  kourt  than  cumen  ware 
Erles,  barons,  both  les  and  mare. 
The  sertayn  day  bifore  was  set ; 
Tharfor  the  lordes,  withowten  let,  3650 

Come  vnto  that  sertayn  day, 
And  than  the  king  gert  sone  puruay 
All  the  lordes  into  a  hall, 
And  set  himself  omang  tham  all. 
"  Sirs,  he  sayd,  ye  sal  sit  downe, 
And  takes  entent  to  my  resowne." 

"  Than  stode  he  vp  omanges  tham  all, 
On  the  highest  place  in  the  hall  : 
"  Lordinges,  he  said,  lokes  omang  yow 
If  any  man  can  tel  me  now  3660 

Of  the  rauens  that  cryes  on  me, 
]  n  what  stede  so  that  I  be  ? 
Wha  can  me  tel,  so  mot  I  thriue, 
My  doghter  sal  he  haue  to  wiue, 
And  half  my  kingdom  ilkadele, 
That  he  sal  hald  him  paid  ful  wele." 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  141 

When  the  king  had  said  his  will 

Al  the  lordes  sat  stane-still ; 

Of  al  the  wise  men  that  thar  ware 

Nane  kowth  gif  him  graith  answare.  3670 

The  steward  childe  than  was  wele  paid, 

When  he  herd  how  the  kyng  had  said  ; 

In  his  hert  he  thinkes  wele 

That  he  kowth  tel  him  ilkadele. 

Til  his  lord  spekes  he  priuely, 

And  said  this  tale  wele  tel  can  I 

Of  the  rauens  that  on  the  king  cries, 

And  also  what  it  signifies  : 

If  the  king  will  hald  that  he  has  hight 

Vnto  tham  that  kowth  tel  him  right,  3680 

To  tel  him  wil  I  wele  warand, 

If  he  wil  hald  me  lele  couenand." 

"  The  steward  said,  "  Lat  swilk  wordes  be, 
For,  son,  thou  may  sone  shend  me, 
If  thou  tald  a  wrang  resown, 
In  euyl  tyme  come  we  to  toun." 
"  Sir,  sayd  the  childe,  drede  the  nathing  : 
I  knaw  ful  wele  the  fowles  criyng ; 
Whare  any  singes,  in  wode  or  cage, 
I  vnderstand  wele  thaire  langwage."  3690 

The  steward  stode  vp  in  the  hall, 
And  to  the  king  than  gan  he  call. 
"  1  haue  a  childe,  he  said,  sir  kyng, 
That  can  tel  the  thine  asking, 


J42  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 

Why  the  thre  rauen  opon  the  cry, 

And  als  what  it  may  signyfy, 

If  thou  will  hald  that  thou  has  hyght 

Vnto  tham  that  tel  the  right." 

"  Yis,"  said  the  king,  and  tharto  sware. 

"  Al  that  I  hight,  and  mekyl  mare,  3700 

Sal  I  gif  him  that  me  tels 

Why  the  thre  rauens  on  me  yelles." 

The  steward  the  childe  vnto  the  king  led, 

And  bad  he  sold  noght  be  adred. 

When  the  child  come  to  the  king 

He  bad  he  sold  mak  no  lesyng. 

The  child  said,  §t  Sir,  by  God  mighty, 

I  sal  say  noght  bot  sothfastly." 

"  Than  stode  the  childe  vp  sone  onane, 
Bifore  the  barons  euerilkane.  3710 

On  him  thai  loked,  bath  les  and  mare  ; 
So  faire  a  childe  saw  thai  neuer  are. 
"  Sirs,  he  said,  ye  se  ilkane, 
How  a  rauen  sittes  and  cries  allane. 
Sir  king,  he  said,  I  tel  it  the, 
It  es  the  femal  of  the  thre  : 
And,  sirs,  he  said,  ye  se  alswa 
How  thare  sittes  other  rauens  twa  ; 
Also  ye  se  thaire  ferly  fare, 

How  the  les  cries  on  the  mare.  3720 

The  mare  o  f  them  the  elder  ys  : 
That  other  female  first  was  his  ; 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  143 

He  held  hir  wele  al  threty  yere, 

Than  so  bifell  that  corn  was  dere  ; 

Tharfore  the  alder  hir  forsoke, 

And  no  thing  wald  he  til  hir  loke. 

He  fled  fra  hir  in  that  dere  tyme, 

And  on  sere  sides  soght  sho  hym. 

Thus  when  the  alder  hir  gan  forsake, 

The  yonger  toke  hir  to  his  make ;  3730 

The  yonger  rauen  hir  toke  that  tyme 

For  his  felow  forth  with  hym. 

He  yemed  hir  ful  wele  always, 

Both  by  nightes  and  bi  dayes. 

Fro  hir  neuer  fieghe  he  walde, 

Nowther  for  hunger  ne  for  calde 

Now  es  the  aid  rauen  cumen  ogayn, 

And  wald  haue  his  fere  ful  fain. 

The  aid  rauen  sais  that  sho  es  his, 

The  yonger  sais,  "  that  myne  sho  ys :  3740 

For  I  haue  wond  with  hir  alway, 

And  left  hir  nowther  night  ne  day." 

He  sais  sho  sal  noght  part  him  fra, 

Nowther  for  wele  ne  for  wa, 

Til  the  dome,  sir  king,  be  gifen  of  the, 

Whether  make  that  sho  sal  be/' 

"  The  child  said,  "  Sertainly,  sir  king, 
This  es  the  cause  of  thaire  crying. 
When  thou  haues  said  to  tham  thi  will, 
And  gifen  the  dome,  by  right  and  scill,  3750 


144  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 

Whether  of  tham  that  hir  sal  haue, 
Namare  on  the  than  wil  thai  craue, 
Ne  namare  mak  noyse  ne  cri ; 
Hame  thai  wil  wend  hastyly." 

"  The  king  toke  kownsail  of  this  thing 
At  his  barons  aide  and  ying, 
How  he  sold  deme  the  rauens  twa, 
Whilk  sold  hir  haue  and  whilk  forga. 
Than  al  his  barons  talde  him  to, 
How  that  tham  thoght  best  to  do.  3760 

Bi  kownsail  of  barown  and  knyght 
The  king  gaf  dome,  by  reson  right; 
He  went  byfor  tha  rauens  thre, 
And  stode  that  thai  myght  him  se. 
The  rauens  cried  als  thai  war  won  : 
The  king  spak  vnto  tham  son, 
And  said,  "  That  the  female  sold  ay 
Dwel  with  hym,  both  night  and  day, 
That  kepid  hir  fra  noyes  sere, 
In  that  tyme  that  corn  was  dere  :  3770 

And  he  that  put  hir  than  him  fra 
By  reson  he  sal  hyr  forga ; 
He  lufed  hir  noght,  this  es  sertayn, 
That  wald  with  hunger  sho  had  bene  slayne." 

"  When  the  alder  rauen  of  the  twa 
Herd  the  king  gif  the  dome  swa, 
He  made  a  cri  and  rewful  mane  ; 
Thareof  had  meruayl  many  ane : 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  145 

On  his  maner  he  morned  fast, 
And  witli  swilk  playnt  oway  he  past.  3780 

The  king  herd  and  saw  al  this  ; 
In  hert  he  had  ful  mekil  blys. 
Tha  other  gan  thaire  fethers  shake, 
And  mekil  myrth  than  gan  thai  make  : 
Thai  toke  a  flight  [and]  flow  oway. 
This  thoght  the  king  a  nobil  play. 
The  child  he  gert  bifore  hym  call, 
Right  thare  omang  his  barons  all ; 
He  held  him  quaynt  and  wonder  wise, 
And  ful  wele  quit  his  seruise.  3790 

"  The  king  gaf  him,  thare  in  that  place, 

Hys  doghter  als  the  couenant  was, 

And  half  his  kingdom,  grete  and  small, 

And  efter  hym  for  to  haue  all. 

Now  has  that  childe  so  mekil  thing, 

He  may  be  felow  with  erl  and  king. 
"  Opon  a  day  he  hym  bythoght 

On  his  fader  that  him  forth  broght, 

And  on  his  moder  that  hym  bare. 

Than  in  grete  pouert  fallen  thai  ware :  3800 

Thai  went,  for  shame,  fra  thaire  cuntr£, 

And  come  and  wond  in  that  cet£, 

Whare  thaire  son  was  lord  and  kino- ; 

Bot  thai  ne  wist  noght  of  that  thing  ; 

Ne  he  wist  noght  that  thai  war  thare, 

Ne  noght  he  knew  of  thaire  mysfare. 
vol.  ill.  it 


]4()  THE  SEUYM    SAGES, 

Bot  als  he  lay  opon  a  nyght 

In  a  dreme,  than  thoght  him  right 

That  he  was  warned  in  visiowne, 

His  fader  and  moder  was  in  the  town;  3810 

It  bad  he  sold  tak  tham  hym  till, 

And  also  wirk  what  war  thare  will. 

"  At  morn  the  childe  cald  seriantes  twa, 
And  bad  thai  sold  his  erand  ga 
Preuely  into  the  towne, 
And  spir  in  stretes,  vp  and  downe, 
Efter  a  man  of  strange  cuntre, 
Newly  cumen,  hys  whife  and  he  : — 
"  His  name  es  Gerard  Nories  son. 
Wayt  priuely  whare  thai  mai  won."  3820 

When  thai  him  fand  he  bad  tham  say, 
That  thai  war  welkum  alway 
To  soiorn  in  that  same  cete  ; 
And  at  the  king  himself  wald  se 
Of  their  fare  and  of  thaire  life, 
Bath  of  him  and  of  his  wife  ; 
And  bad  tham  ordain  alkins  thing 
On  the  morn  to  kepe  the  king  ; 
Mete  and  drink,  bathe  glide  and  fine, — 
"  For  my  wil  es  with  tham  to  dine."  3830 

"  The  seriantes  went  with  hert  glad, 
And  spird  obowt  als  he  tham  bad ; 
Vp  and  down  thai  spirred  ful  fast, 
So  that  thai  fand  tham  at  the  last. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  ]47 

When  thai  had  funden  that  man  vnkowth, 
Thai  hailsed  him  mildely  with  mowth. 
"  Sir,  thai  said,  withouten  leseing, 
Wele  the  gretes  the  yong  kyng ; 
And,  sir,  he  sendes  the  word  with  me, 
That  he  wil  cum  and  dyne  with  the,  3840 

Tomorn  at  prime,  withowten  delay  : 
Tharfore  his  mete  luke  ye  pumay." 
"  Sertanly,  sirs,  than  said  he, 
The  king  es  ful  welkum  to  me, 
And  swilk  gode,  sirs,  als  we  haue, 
Vnto  the  king  w[e]  vowche  it  saue." 
Vntill  his  whif  he  sayd  in  hy  : 
"  Dame,  in  hert  I  am  sary, 
That  we  haue  noght  al  ful  plente, 
To  welkum  swilk  a  lord  als  he."  3850 

"  The  gude  wife  said,  "  Sir,  greues  yow  noght : 
What  so  vs  wantes  sal  sone  be  boght, 
So  that  he  sal  be  wele  at  ayse." 
Vnto  the  seriantes  than  sho  sais : 
"  Al  that  we  haue,  sirs,  in  al  thing, 
Es  redy  vnto  my  lord  the  king." 
The  seriantes  went  than  hame  ogayn, 
And  sayd  the  king  thir  sawes  sertayn, 
How  that  thai  had  funden  the  man, 
And  how  that  he  thain  answerd  than  :  3860 

Than  was  the  king  ful  glad  in  hert, 
That  thai  ware  hale  and  in  quert. 


148  THE  SEHYN  SAGES. 

"  On  the  morn  he  toke  a  litel  menye, 
And  to  his  fader  than  wendes  he. 
He  rides  right  til  his  fader  dore ; 
Seriantes  of  mace  went  him  bifore. 
Right  at  the  dore  than  down  he  lyght, 
And  went  into  the  hows  ful  right. 
The  godeman  welkumed  fayre  the  kyng  ; 
Bot  of  him  had  he  na  knawing  :  3870 

The  whife  him  welkumed  als  ful  rath. 
The  kyng  thanked  blithly  tham  bath. 
The  kinges  dener  wele  was  grayd ; 
Thai  set  trestes  and  bordes  on  layd, 
Thai  spred  clathes  and  salt  on  set, 
And  made  redy  vnto  the  mete ; 
Thai  set  forth  water  and  to  well. 
Herkens  now,  how  it  bifell ! 
In  a  gude  kape  the  king  gan  stand, 
Als  custume  was  than  in  that  land.  3880 

"  When  thai  gaf  water  vnto  the  king, 
The  fader  saw  the  sleue  down  hing ; 
He  stirt  tharto  and  held  it  vp, 
For  water  sold  noght  tharon  drop. 
The  godewife  gan  bifore  him  stand, 
With  a  towayl  to  wipe  his  hand  ; 
She  honorde  him  at  al  hir  myght : 
And  when  the  king  saw  this  in  sight, 
A  squier  he  gert  the  towayl  take, 
And  to  his  moder  than  he  spake,  3890 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  149 

And  to  his  fader  in  that  place  : 

"  Fader,  he  said,  thurgh  Goddes  grace, 

Fulfild  es  now  the  crakes  crying, 

That  tald  bifore  of  al  this  thing, 

How  that  I  sold  be  recher  man, 

And  haue  more  welth  than  ye  had  than  ; 

And  for  I  sayd  it  sold  so  be, 

Sir,  ye  kest  me  in  the  se." 

"  When  the  fader  herd  this  tale 
In  his  hert  he  had  grete  bale  :  3900 

Al  tha  wordes  ful  wele  he  knew. 
He  was  so  ferd  him  changed  hew ; 
He  wend  his  son  than  sold  him  sla 
For  that  he  had  him  serued  swa  : 
Bot  the  kyng  kissed  tham  both  in  fere, 
And  said,  "  Bese  meri,  and  mase  glide  chere 
For  ye  sal  be  in  ioy  and  blis, 
And  nonekins  myrthes  sal  ye  mys." 
The  king  gaf  sone  into  thaire  handes 
New  tenementes  and  riche  landes,  3910 

And  gold  and  syluer  grete  plente : 
His  fader  and  moder  thus  helpid  he." 

Thus,  this  tale  was  broght  til  end  ; 
And  Florentine,  with  wordes  hende, 
And  with  reuerence  and  grete  honowre, 
Sayd  to  his  fader  the  emperowre  : 


150  THE   SEUYN  SAGES. 

"  Fader,  on  this  wise  wald  ye, 

Ogayns  the  right,  haue  gert  sla  me; 

And  fully  haue  ye  bene  my  fa. 

Dere  fader,  why  do  ye  swa  ?  3920 

I  trispast  namare  than  did  he, 

The  childe  that  was  kast  in  the  se, 

And,  if  I  myght  come  to  honowre, 

For  to  be  king  or  emperowre, 

Wene  ye  that  I  wald  greue  yow  ? 

Nay,  sir,  that  sal  ye  neuer  trow : 

Drawen  and  bren  are  wald  1  be, 

Or  I  wald  greue  my  fader  fre. 

And,  fader,  yowre  wife  weterly, 

Wald  haue  gert  me  lig  hir  by,  3930 

Bot  I  had  leuer  haue  died  als  sone, 

Than  that  dede  to  yow  haue  done." 

When  the  emperoure  herd  how  he  sayd, 
Of  that  poynt  he  was  noght  payde  ; 
And  sone  he  sent  efter  his  whife, 
That  him  had  made  so  mekil  strife. 
"  Dame,  he  sayd,  es  this  sothe  thing  ?" 
"  Ya,  sir,  sho  sayd,  by  heuyn  kyng  ! 
He  says  soth  in  this  sesovvne ; 
And  I  sal  say  by  what  resowne  :  3940 

For  he  sold  do  na  harm  the  till, 
And  also,  for  this  sertayne  skill, 
That  mi  sons  sold  be  na  bastardes 
Bot  haue  thi  landes  and  be  grete  lardes. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  151 

And,  sir,  I  drede  me  yit  alswa, 

That  he  sold  haue  the  empire  the  fra, 

Hereefter,  when  thou  cums  on  elde, 

And  may  noght  wele  thiseluen  welde  : 

Tharfore  I  wald  haue  had  him  dede, 

That  my  bames  might  be  in  thi  stede  ;  3950 

And  on  this  wise,  sir,  haue  I  soght 

To  ger  him  vnto  ded  be  broght." 

"  A !  dame,  said  the  emperowre, 

Thou  haues  ben  a  fals  gilowre, 

And  with  thi  treson  done  me  tene, 

That  sal  now  on  thiself  be  sene ; 

For  thi  gandes  and  thi  gilry 

I  gif  this  dome  that  thou  sal  dy. 

Sakles  thou  wald  my  son  haue  slayne ; 

Thiself  sal  haue  the  same  payne.  3960 

Thi  witchcraft  and  thi  sorceri 

Sal  thou  now  ful  dere  aby. 

Thou  grantes  thiself  here  al  the  gilt, 

Tharfore  es  reson  thou  be  spilt. 

If  thou  lifed  lenger  it  war  wath, 

For  ful  sone  wald  thou  shend  vs  bath ; 

And  sen  thou  grantes  thi  werkes  wrang, 

It  nedes  no  quest  on  the  to  gang. 

Thou  ert  worthy  the  ded  to  take, 

By  rightwis  dome,  for  my  son  sake."  3970 


152  THE  SEUYN   SAGES. 

"  The  emperoure  gert  bifor  him  call 
His  knightes  and  his  menye  all, 
And  sayd,  "  Sir,  smertly,  for  my  sake, 
A  grete  fire  that  ye  ger  make, 
Hastily,  at  the  townes  end, 
For  tharyn  sal  this  whif  be  brend, 
With  mekyl  dole,  this  day  or  none, 
For  the  tresown  that  sho  has  done  ; 
And  loke  ye  spare  hyr  neuer  a  dele, 
For  sho  has  serued  it  fid  vvele."  3980 

The  barons  war  al  of  ane  asent, 
That  sho  sold  haue  that  same  iugement ; 
And  al  the  knyghtes  fast  gan  cri : 
"  Do  to  ded  that  fals  lady, 
That  with  hir  wichecraft  and  hir  rede, 
Wald  haue  gert  the  childe  be  ded !" 

Sone  thai  made,  onane  right, 
A  faire  fire  brinand  ful  bright ; 
Than  thai  tok  that  fayr  lady  : — 
Yt  helpid  hyr  noght  to  ask  mercy, —  3990 

Thai  band  hir  fast  bath  fote  and  hand, 
That  sho  myght  nowther  rise  ne  stand. 
Hir  fete  thai  fest  vnto  hir  swyre, 
And  lete  hir  flye  in  myddes  the  fire  ; 
Thus  was  the  ladies  ending  day, 
And  thus  was  sho  quit  hir  joinay. 


THE  SEUYN  SAGES.  153 

The  childe  lifed  with  grete  hon6wre, 

And  efter  his  fader  was  emperoure, 

And  led  his  life  with  werkes  wise, 

And  ended  seyn  in  Goddes  seruyse.  4000 

Thus-gate  endes  al  this  thing. 

Jesu  grante  vs  his  blessyng  ! 

AMEN. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 


J esu,  that  was  with  spere  y-stoyuge, 
And  for  vs  hard  and  sore  y  swounge, 
Glady  both  old  and  younge 

With  wytte  honest, 
That  wylled  a  whyle  ster  her  tounge, 

And  herkeny  gest ! 

But  fele  men  be  of  swyche  manere, 
Goodnesse  when  hy  scholden  here, 
Hy  n'ylled  naght  lesste  with  her  ere 

To  lerny  wyt ;  10 

But,  as  a  swyn,  with  lowryng  chere 

All  gronne  he  syyte. 


158  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

And  fele  of  hem  casted  a  cry 
Of  thyng  that  fallyd  to  rybasdy, 
That  noon  of  hem  that  sytte  hym  by 

May  haue  no  lest. 
God  schylde  all  this  company 

Fram  swych  a  gest, 

And  yeue  vs  grace  goodnesse  to  lere 

Of  ham  that  before  vs  were,  20 

Crystendom  how  they  gonne  arere 

Tho  hyt  began  ! 
Of  oon  the  best  ye  mowne  a-here 

That  hyght  Ottouyan. 

Ottouyan  was  emperour 

Of  all  Rome  and  the  honour  ; 

Of  chyualrye  he  hadde  the  flour 

That  any  man  wyste  : 
Here  of  a  nobyll  conquerour 

Ye  mowyth  lyste.  30 

Emperour  lie  was  yerys  fyve, 

Ayen  hys  foon,  with  fyght  and  stryfe  ; 

In  all  that  tyme  he  hadde  noo  wyfe 

To  getyn  hym  an  eyr. 
Hys  barouns  seyde,  that  swyche  lyf 

Was  not  favr. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  159 

They  seyde  :  "  Syr,  the  Kyng  of  Fraunce 

Myght  abate  all  thys  daunce  : 

He  hath  a  dowghter  hatte  Floraunce 

As  whyte  as  flour  :  40 

To  wedde  her  make  purueaunce, 

Syr  emperour. 

"  Dagabers  ys  the  kyngys  name  ; 
Wyde  sprynged  hys  ryche  fame  : 
Ther  ys  no  kyng  yn  Cristindame 

So  war,  ne  so  wys." 
The  emperour  with  barouns  yn-same 

Rood  to  Parys, 

And  preyde  the  kyng  with  mylde  chere, 

Yf  that  hyt  hys  wyll  were,  50 

To  yeue  hym  hys  dowghter  dere 

To  emperesse  : 
The  kyng  hym  grauntede  hys  prayere, 

And  gan  hym  kesse. 

No  man  may  telle  yn  tale 

The  peple  that  was  at  that  bredale  : 

Of  kyngys,  dukes,  and  prynces  fale, 

Erlles  and  baroun, 
In  Parys  was  y-feld  ech  a  sale 

Into  all  the  toun.  60 


160  OCTOUIAN  IMFERATOK. 

The  holy  pope  Seynt  Clement 
Weddede  hem  with  good  entent, 
And  prayede  God  deuoutement, 

Allmyghty  kyng, 
That  clene  lyyf  togeder  hem  sent 

And  also  good  endynge. 

Ther  myghth  men  here  menstralcye, 
Trompys,  taborus,  and  cornettys  crye, 
Roowte,  gyterne,  lute,  and  sawtrye, 

Fydelys,  and  othyr  mo  :  70 

In  Parys  gret  melodye 

They  maden  tho. 

Fourty  dayes  hy  helden  feste, 

Ryche,  ryall,  and  oneste  ; 

Ther  ne  was  noon  so  symple  a  gest 

In  all  the  toim, 
That  hy  ne  hadde,  lest  and  mest, 

Grete  foyson. 

And  after  mete  the  lordys  wyse, 

Eueryche  yn  dywers  queyntyse,  80 

To  daunce  went,  by  ryght  asyse, 

The  Frensch  thoght  telle, 
Tn  euery  strete  of  Parys 

Tyll  curfu-belle. 


OCTOITIAN  1MPERATOR.  1  ( )  \ 

And  at  the  forty  dayes  ende, 
Hye  token  leue  for  to  wende, 
Ech  lord,  to  hys  owene  kende, 

Of  Crystendome. 
The  emperour  and  Florence  hende 

Wenten  to  Rome,  90 

And  louede  well,  with  hert  trewe, 

Nyght  and  day  ylych  newe  ; 

And  that  ryght  sore  began  to  rewe 

The  oolde  emperesse  : 
Sche  made  hem  sone  chongen  hewe, 

Thorgh  here  wikkednesse. 

The  emperour,  yn  the  feist  yere, 
That  hy  togydere  weren  yn  fere, 
Vppon  Florence,  that  lady  dere, 

He  gette  and  wan  10O 

Two  man-chylderyn,  fayyr  of  chere, 

As  whytte  as  swan. 

The  holy  pope  Seynt  Clement 

Crystened  hem  yn  on  atent : 

By  de  emperours  commaundement 

He  cleped  hem  dan, 
That  00  chylde  was  named  Florent, 
And  that  other  Octouyan. 
vol.  III.  L 

* 


162  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOH. 

Tho  was  all  Rome  gladde  and  blyde, 

And  thangede  God  many  a  syde.  *10 

The  emperour,  couthde  no  man  kythe 

His  ioye  and  blysse  ; 
But  of  hys  modyr  ye  mowe  lythe 

A  greet  falnesse. 

Sche  seyde  :  "  Sone,  syr  emperoure, 
Thow  dost  thyself  greet  dyshonoure, 
That  thou  louyst  so,  par  amoure, 

Thy  yonge  wyyf : 
Sche  hathd  a  by-leman  yn  boure, 

A  full  foule  kaytyf.  12° 

"  I  wyll,  sone,  that  thou  hyt  wyte 

The  kokes  knaue,  that  turneth  the  spyte, 

Vpon  thy  wyfe  he  hath  begete 

On  of  tho  two  : 
I  wyll  myn  heed  be  of  y-smyte, 

Bote  hyt  be  soo. 

"  For  thou  ne  seghe  neuer  no  woman, 
Seth  de  world  ferst  began, 
But  sche  hadde  a  by-leman 

That  myghth  conceyue  13° 

Two  chylderen,  that  ony  lyyf  telle  kan, 

That  ys  alyue."— 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  l6S 

Seyde  the  emperour,  "  Dame,  that  ys  leesse, 
And  therfore,  moder,  hold  your  pees  ! 
Many  on  swyche  before  vs  was 

In  Crystendome  : 
Ye  schall  rewe  a  sory  rees 

Yf  hyt  out-come."-— 

"  Do,"  spakke  hys  modyr  wordys  fell, — 

And  swar  by  hym  that  made  heuen  and  helle,  140 

That  no  man  gan  hyt  hyr  telle, 

Lowe  nor  hye, — 
"  Myself  hyt  sawe  ham  togedere  dwelle 

Both  with  my  nye  ; 

"  And,  sone,  thyself  hyt  schall  y-se." 

Than  seyde  the  emperoure  :  "  Yf  hyt  so  be, 

Ne  hadde  neuer  woman  schuch  schame  as  sche, 

In  Rome  ner  in  Fraunce." — 
With  that  hys  modyr  agayn  gan  te 

To  fayr  Floraunce  ;  150 

And  made  her  game  and  greet  solas  : 
But  sche  was  traytour  as  was  Judas. 
Sche  seyth  a  boy  lothly  of  face, 

A  quysteroun  ; 
To  hym  sche  toke  the  ryght  pas, 

With  a  full  tresoun, 


164  OCTOUTAN  IMPERATOR. 

And  seyde  :  "  Hark,  thou  cokes  knaue, 
Of  me  thy  warsoun  thou  schalt  haue, 
With  that  thou  do  that  Y  the  craue 

In  pryuyte." —  160 

"  Madame,  he  seyde,  so  God  me  saue, 

What  schall  hyt  be  ?"— 

"  Thow  most,  sche  seyde,  for  alle  chaunce, 
Slepe  by  the  quene  Floraunce  : 
Hyt  ys  my  sonys  ordynaunce 

Octouyan  ; 
Well  rychelych  he  wyll  the  auaunce, 

And  make  th£  a  man. 

"  But  loke,  boy,  that  thou  her  ne  take, 
Wharfore  the  lady  myghth  awake  !  170 

Good  bourde  therof  we  schull  make, 

Soone,  al  so  sket." — 
The  boy  hyt  dorst  not  forsake, 

And  here  beheet. 

But  when  the  lady  was  aslepe, 
Into  hyr  bedde  the  boy  gan  crepe. 
Thus  browght  sche  her  treson  to  hepe 

Or  that  sche  owt-come  : 
Therfor  many  on  gan  wepe 

After  yn  Rome.  180 


OCTOUIAN   IMPERATOR.  1  65 

When  that  sche  myght  out-breke, 

To  her  sone  sche  gan  to  reke, 

And  seyde  :  "Now  myght  thou  be  awreke 

Of  thy  foon  : 
They  lyy th  yn  chamber  faste  y-steke, 

Sty  lie  as  ston." 

The  emperour  tho,  anoon  ryght, 
With  lanternes  and  with  torches  lyght, 
And  with  hym  many  a  doughty  knyght, 

He  gen  vp-breke  390 

The  dore  :  tho  was  the  boy  aflyght, 

And  dorst  not  speke. 

He  prayed  God,  with  softe  steuene, 
To  saue  hym  for  hys  namys  seuene. 
The  emperice  mette  yn  sweuene 

An  ern  com  fly, 
And  bar  her  to  chylderen  euen 

Vp  to  the  sky  ; 

And  wylde  lyberdes,  and  many  a  lyoun 
To-droghgh  her  body  vp  and  doun.  200 

Sche  awakede  and  segh  with  a  fachoun 

Her  lord  stonde, 
And  with  hym  many  a  bold  baroun 

Of  Rome  londe. 


166  OCTOUIAN IMPERATOR. 

Sche  ne  therst  speke  a  word  for  fere. 

The  emperour  hente  by  de  here 

The  knaue,  and  smot  atwo  hys  swere  ; 

And  also  warm 
He  drew  that  hedde,  with  lowryng  chere, 

Into  the  lady  barm  :  210 

And  seyde  :  "  Pley  the  with  that  ball ! 

I  prey,  God  yeue  the  euell  fall : 

Thou  scholdyst  be  honged  or  hewe  small, 

Be  iugement." — 
Hys  modyr  seyde,  "  With  ryght  sche  schall 

Be  all  for-brent." 

The  emperour  tho  het  yn  haste 
Me  schold  here  ynto  prison  kaste, 
Odyr  wymmen  by  her  to  chaste 

That  were  wyues.  220 

Anoon  hy  was  y-take  well  faste 

And  brought  yn  gyues. 

A  morn  the  emperoure  yn  ire 
Sente  aboute  in  hys  empyre 
After  many  a  ryche  syre, 

To  deme  her  dome. 
The  folk  tho  com  fram  eche  a  schyre 

Ryght  ynto  Rome. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  167 

For  sche  was  founde  with  the  dede 

Me  ne  leuede  noght  that  sche  sede.  230 

The  justyce  het  men  schold  her  led© 

Out  of  the  cyt£, 
And  brenne  anon  to  smale  glede 

Hem  all  thre. 

A  noon  a  fyer  ther  was  y-beet, 
And  a  tonne  amydde  y-set, 
And  Floraunce  was  dyder  y-feet, 

And  her  two  sonys  : 
For  dool  of  hem  many  a  tere  leet 

All  the  barouns.  240 

Ther  was  many  a  wepyng  eye, 

And  greet  sorwe  of  ham  that  hyt  sye, 

And  cryde  both  fer  and  nye  : 

"  Alas,  thys  chaunce ! 
To  day  gyltles  deth  schall  dye 

Fayre  Floraunce, 

And  her  two  sonys  withoutyn  gylt. 
Abyyd,  syr  emperour,  yf  thou  wylt !" — 
With  that  anoon  hys  herte  was  mylt, 

And  cryde,  "  Pees  !  250 

Thys  day  schall  sche  noght  be  spylt, 

Withowte  lees. 


168  OCTOUIAN IMPERATOR. 

«  I  am  emperour,  and  sche  ys  my  wyfe  : 
I  may  yeue  her  lyme  and  lyfe. 
1  n'old  for  kyngdomes  fyyf 

I  se  her  y-brent." — 
Tho  seyde  hys  modyr  :  "  Alas,  cayteyf, 

Now  art  thou  schent. 

"  Thy  mysbegeten  chylderen  two, 

They  schull  the  werke  mochell  wo  :  260 

I  pray  God  hyt  befalle  so, 

Thorgh  hys  grace  !"— 
The  emperour  het  the  lady  do 

Lede  owt  of  place  ; 

And  commaundede  barouns  thre 

Her  to  lede  owt  of  countre 

To  the  wyldest  forest  that  myght  be 

Of  Crystendome  : 
That  sche  neuer  ne  schuld  y-se 

The  bourgh  of  Rome.  27° 

Thys  sorwe  the  lady,  that  ylke  day, 
Men  her  sette  on  a  palfi  ay  ; 
And  yn  her  barm  before  her  lay 

Hyr  yonge  sonys, 
That  schuld  wende  yn  her  way 

Forth  with  the  barouns. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  I69 

Ten  pound  of  floryns  clere 

Tlie  emperour  toke  hys  worldlyche  fere. 

The  pope  with  wepyng  cheer, 

That  men  schuld  whyte,  280 

Heng  the  chylderen  names  aboute  her  swere, 

In  bylles  y-wryte. 

They  ryden  forth  to  a  wylde  forest, — 
There  was  many  a  wylde  best, — 
Fram  Rome-londe,  as  seyd  the  gest, 

An  hundred  myle. 
Hy  ne  therst  her  brynge  forder  est 

For  grete  peryle, 

But  turnede  agayn  to  the  emperour, 

And  lefte  the  lady  yn  dolour.  290 

Many  a  man  bad  our  Sauyour 

Her  help  at  nede, 
The  old  emperice,  the  fyle  traytour, 

Euele  to  spede. 

As  the  lady  rood  be  an  hylle, 

Under  a  roche  sche  sey  a  welle  ; 

A  stounde  sche  thoghte  her  to  dwelle ; 

Adoun  sche  lyghte. 
Now  harkened  of  an  aunter  that  felle 

Tho  a  noon  ryght !  300 


170  OCTOUIAN IMPERATOR. 

Her  chylderen  sche  doughte  ther  to  bathe  ; 
Sche  sat  adoun  hem  to  vnswade. 
For  greet  sorouwe,  and  for  scathe, 

Handys  gan  wrynge, 
And  fyll  aslepe,  swyde  rade, 

In  her  sorouwyng. 

The  chylderyn  wer  full  fawe  of  reste, 
And  leye  and  swokyn  of  her  brest. 
With  that  com  out  of  the  west 

A  female  ape,  31° 

And  chyld  Florentyn,  also  prest, 

He  toke  yn  rape  ; 

And  thoghte  hym  bere,  as  fast  as  hy  may, 
To  the  stede  ther  hyr  whelpys  lay. 
A  knyght  hadde  honted  all  that  day 

In  that  forest, 
And  segh  the  ape  com  in  the  way 

A  grysly  best, 

And  bar  that  chylde  yn  pelle  y-wounde. 

Anon  he  lyght  adoun  to  grounde,  320 

The  ape  to  yeue  a  grysly  wounde 

Whyt  hys  swerd  : 
The  ape  of  hym  that  ylke  stounde 

Was  noght  aferd. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  171 

Sche  layde  adoun  that  chyld  stylle, 
And  to  the  knyght  sche  gan  to  skylle. 
The  knyght  smoot  with  good  wylle 

Strokes  of  thre, 
And  the  ape  hym  boot  full  ylle 

Thorgh  the  sparlyre.  330 

The  knyght,  for  anguyssche  and  for  smert, 
Tho  faught  as  egre  man  of  hert, 
And  to  the  ape  anoon  he  gert 

Well  many  rappys : 
The  ape  thorgh  clodys  and  also  hys  schert 

Brayde  of  hys  pappys. 

Tho  myght  men  se  fyght  with  rape 

Betwene  the  knyght  and  the  ape  : 

N other  of  hem  myght  fram  other  ascape, 

For  besy  of  fyght ;  340 

Bot,  as  the  schrewe  began  to  gape, 

Hys  swerd  hath  pyght 

Into  the  mouth  ryght  euene  tho, 
And  karf  the  hert  ryght  euene  atwo ; 
And,  whan  to  deth  he  hadde  y-do 

That  best  so  wylde, 
He  tok  vp,  and  gan  to  go, 

That  fayyr  chylde ; 


360 


172  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

And  loop  yn  haste  on  hys  palfray, 

And  thoghte  to  wende  the  ryght  way  350 

To  Dannysco  a  grey  abey, 

Ther  leches  wore, 
For  to  hele,  yf  that  he  may, 

Hys  woundes  sore. 

As  he  rood  be  a  wodes  schawe 

He  seghe  ther  many  a  wylde  outlavve. 

Awey  fro  hem  he  wold  a-drawe, 

Yf  that  he  myght  : 
Be  hys  harneys  they  hyt  [sawe], 

That  he  was  a  knyght. 

The  maystyr  anon  aftyr  hym  sende  ; 
Yong  men  hym  fette,  with  bowes  bent, 
And  broght  hym  her  maystyr  hende. 

He  heet  yn  haste, 
Yf  he  hadde  ony  tresour  to  spende, 

Adoun  hyt  caste. 

The  knyght  answerede  wordes  mylde : 
«  I  haue  no  tresour  but  thys  chylde  ; 
I  wan  hyt  of  a  best  full  wylde, 

A  female  ape, 
And  thus,  syr,  my  body  sche  fyylde, 

And  foule  hath  schape." 


370 


OCTOUIAN  1MPERATOR.  173 

The  outlawe  seyde,  "  Be  my  fay, 
Both  thys  chylde  and  thy  palfray, 
Thou  most  here  lete  thys  ylke  day 

To  owre  spendyng, 
And  wend  thyself  forth  thy  wey, 

And  sey  no  thyng." 

The  knyght  was  glad  to  skape  so, 

As  euery  man  ys  from  hys  foo.  380 

The  mayster  lette  x.  men  and  mo 

That  ylke  day, 
To  wende  and  selle  that  chylde  hem  fro, 

And  that  palfray. 

The  yong  man  went  to  the  see-stronde, 
And  segh  ther  many  schypys  stonde, 
And  marchauntes,  of  vncouth  londe, 

To  bey  ware  ; 
But  ther  ne  chepede  fre  ne  bonnde 

All  her  chafare.  390 

Sone  was  that  palfray  sold, 
And  the  florins  therfor  y-told  : 
With  that  ther  com  a  palmer  old 

In  a  sklaueyne, 
And  bad  for  that  chyld  so  bold 

Well  many  floreyne. 


174  OCTAUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

I-born  he  was  yn  Seyn  Denys, 
And  was  a  bowchyer  of  Parys ; 
Of  that  craft  he  bare  the  prys, 

Forsode  to  seyn,  400 

And  was  y-cleped  be  name,  Y  wys, 

Clement  Vyleyne. 

The  bocher  was  a  man  of  myght, 
Of  Parys  fellest  with  to  fyght : 
Thawgh  he  were  boystous  of  syght 

He  hadde  gret  strength  : 
The  Frensch  seyd  he  was  of  heghth 

Ten  foot  of  length. 

And  when  he  hadde  that  chylde  y-boghth 
Home  to  Parys  he  hyt  broghth,  410 

And  tok  hyt  hys  wyf,  and  hyr  besowght 

That  chylde  to  fede  ; 
And  seyd,  he  hadde  agayn  her  wroght 

A  synfull  dede : 

And  told  her  how  he  hyt  wan 
In  Marsyle,  vpon  a  woman, 
And  sche  hym  hyt  betake  gan 

Homward  that  chyld. 
The  good  wyf  answerede  than 

Word  full  mylde  :  420 


OGTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  175 

u  Tliat  chylde  ys  wellcome  to  me  ; 
Yyf  me  half  part  for  charyt&  !'W 
"  Gladly,  dame,  than  seyd  he, 

Be  Seynt  Denys  \" — 
Now  chylde  Florent  leet  we  be 

Dwelle  yn  Parys, 

And  forth  yn  our  tale  telle 

Of  the  lady  that  slepe  at  the  welle. 

Ther  were  many  bestys  felle 

In  that  forest ;  430 

And  on  ther  com  doun  of  an  hylle 

A  grysly  best, 

A  greet  y-whelpyd  lyonesse, 
And  lyynge  seygh  the  emperesse, 
And  her  sone  gan  clep  and  kesse 

Abowte  her  swere. 
He  that  wyll  harkene  dystresse 

Now  he  may  here  ! 

The  tygre  gan  hyt  awey  take : 

With  that  the  lady  gan  awake  :  440 

Greet  sorow  therfor  sche  gan  make, 

And  rufull  cry : 
"  For  thy  swete  sonys  sake 

Now  help  Mary  !" 


176  OCTOUTAN  IMPERATOR. 

Anoon  sche  leep  on  her  palfray ; 
The  tygre  sche  suede  all  that  day. 
A  gryyp  com  fle  to  take  hyr  pray 

In  that  forest, 
Too  bere  what  sche  wynne  may 

Horn  to  her  nest.  450 

Both  the  chyld  and  the  lyoun 

Vp  yn  hys  clawys  bar  the  gryffoun, 

Ther  that  n'as  nother  feld  ne  toun, 

In  the  see  an  yle. 
At  the  last  he  lyght  adoun 

To  reste  a  whyle. 

And  tho  aground  was  the  lyoun 
Well  softe  he  leyde  the  chyld  adoun  ; 
To  yeue  batayle  to  the  gryfoun 

He  gan  to  flynge,  460 

And  breyde  away  with  hard  roun 

The  grypes  wynge. 

Tho  thys  wyng  was  from  y-bore 
I  woot  hys  flyght  was  all  y-lore. 
The  lyoun  sone  hym  hadde  to-tore, 

Al  so  sket ; 
And  whanne  he  was  an-hungred  sore, 

Of  hym  he  eet. 


OCTOUIAN  1MPERATOR.  177 

The  tygre  aftyr  thys  batayle, 

Whelpede  sone  for  hyr  trauayle.  470 

Nowe  mowe  ye  here  greet  merueyle, 

How  God  man  helpys  ? 
The  chyld  sok  forth,  withoute  fayle, 

Among  the  whelpys. 

The  tygre  louede  more  tho 

That  chylde  than  her  whelpys  two : 

Hyt  ys  well  fern  men  seyden  so, 

That  bestyn  kyng 
Hys  kynde  may  he  noght  forgo, 

For  no  lykyng  :  480 

A  chyld  that  ys  of  kynges  blood, 
A  lyoun  ne  struys  hyt  for  no  good : 
Therfor  hyt  louede  with  mylde  mood 

The  lyonesse, 
And  whan  sche  by  hym  sat  other  stood, 

Sche  gan  hym  kysse. 

Now  of  the  lyoun  wyll  we  rest, 
And  forder  telle  yn  owr  geste, 
How  the  lady  rood  yn  the  forest 

Hyr  sones  to  seke  :  490 

But  scho  ne  herd,  est  ne  west, 

Of  hem  no  speche. 

VOL.  III.  M 


178  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

Toward  toun  sche  wald  ryde, 
But  sche  ne  wyste  be  wat  syde  : 
Colyeres  taughte  her  that  tyde 

To  oo  cyte, 
Graundyght  men  clepyd  hyt  fer  and  wyde 

In  Crystiante. 

Bothe  erles  and  barouns  bolde, 

Burgeyys,  ladyys  gon  hyr  beholde  :  500 

Many  mannys  herte  began  to  colde 

That  wyste  her  greef, 
Whan  sche  hem  with  tonge  tolde 

Of  here  myschef. 

Ryght  at  the  meyrys  of  the  cyte, 
Sche  toke  her  in  to  dwelle  and  be. 
Ther  sche  blefede  monethes  thre, 

Forsode  to  say  ; 
Many  a  juwell  ther  solde  sche, 

And  her  palfray.  5  !• 

In  a  day  sche  yede  be  the  se-stronnde, 
And  ther  sche  fond  many  schyppys  stonde, 
And  oon  was  of  the  Holy-lond, 

Pylgremys  to  lede 
Ther  Jesus  for  vs,  Y  vntherstonde, 

Hys  blood  gan  blede. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  179 

The  lady  stood  clothyd  yn  palle, 
And  seygh  that  folk  to  schyppe  falle. 
A  schypman  yn  the  lond  gan  calle, 

"  Com,  brodyr  and  eem,  520 

Ther  God  was  bore  yn  asse-stalle 

In  Bedlem, 

"  And  ther  God  deyde  on  the  rode, 
And  boghte  vs  alle  with  hys  blode ! " 
The  lady  sayde  with  mylde  mode, 

"  I  woll  fare 
To  Jerusalem,  ouer  the  flood, 

And  wonye  dare." 

At  all  the  cyte  sche  tok  her  leue  : 

Well  worschypfully  they  hyt  her  yeue.  530 

To  schype  sche  went  er  hyt  wer  eue 

And  forth  gan  fare  : 
No  man  ne  may  tell  yn  bok  breue 

The  lady  care. 

The  wynd  gan  blowe  swyde  schylle 
Neyghe  dayes,  that  hem  lykede  ylle  : . 
To  God  hy  cryde  loude  and  sty  lie 

For  that  tempest ; 
A  wast  ylond  they  dryuen  tylle, 

Fer  yn  the  est.  540 


180  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

Ryght  as  God  Almyghty  wold 
Hy  ryuede  yn  a  wel  good  hold. 
For  bys  loue  that  Judas  sold, 

Lesteneth  a  stound 
Of  the  chyld  that  Y  er  of  tolde 

How  hyt  was  y-founde ! 

Ten  schypmen  to  londe  yede 

To  se  the  yle  yn  lengthe  and  brede, 

And  fette  water  as  hem  was  nede 

The  roche  an-ondyr ; 
But  of  a  syghthe  they  hadde  greet  drede, 

And  was  no  wonder. 

A  tygre  they  seye  ther  yn  her  than, 
And  a  man  chyld,  whyt  as  swan, 
Sok  of  her  as  of  a  woman 

That  wher  hys  dame. 
The  lyonesse  after  ham  ran 

To  don  hem  schame. 

The  maryners  awey  gonne  skylle, 
And  left  her  barellys  lygge  stylle, 
And  yorne  awey,  with  good  wylle, 

Well  hastyly  ; 
And  lor  that  hy  cryden  schylle 

Men  asked  why. 


550 


560 


OCTOUIAN IMPERATOK.  181 

"  We  segh,  they  seyden,  a  wonder  happe ; 
A  manchyld  swoke  a  lyones  pappe, 
And  neygh  to  dede  we  gan  drappe 

Wythowt  lesyng." 
Tho  gan  Florence  her  handys  clappe 

For  that  tydyng.  570 

"  That  ys  my  chyld,  sche  seyde  tho  ; 
To  londe,  maystyr,  lette  me  go  ; 
I  ne  wyll  spare,  for  well  ne  wo, 

My  chyld  to  saue. 
I  segh  the  lyoun  bere  me  fro 

That  lytyll  knaue." 

For  gret  yeftys  that  she  gan  bede, 

To  londe  the  schypmen  gonne  her  lede  5 

The  ryghte  way  wher  that  they  yede 

They  gonne  kenne.  580 

The  lady  wente,  withowten  drede, 

To  the  tygre  denne, 

And  toke  her  chyld  fram  the  lyonesse  : 
Anon  sche  folowde  the  emperesse. 
Her  sone  sche  gan  cleppe  and  kesse, 

And  was  full  fayn, 
And  went  forth  with  ioye  and  blysse 

To  schyppe  agayn. 


182  OCTOUIAN IMPERATOR. 

And  whan  the  lady  was  fram  the  brym 

The  lyonesse  aftyr  began  to  swymme,  590 

And  on  the  schyp  sche  gan  to  clym 

And  wold  y-wende. 
The  schypmen  wher  stoute  and  grym 

That  schyp  to  thefende, 

And  ofte  her  pelte  ynto  the  see. 

The  lady  bad  hem  lat  be, 

"  For  oo  peny  Y  woll  yeue  thre, 

Yf  sche  thoth  mys." 
The  maystyr  was  of  herte  fire, 

And  grauntede  thys.  600 

A  sprette  ouyr  the  bord  they  caste ; 
The  lyoun  com  to  schyp  yn  haste, 
And  be  the  chyld  sche  ley  thon  chaste 

As  sche  were  tame. 
They  that  wer  ere  than  agaste 

Tho  hadde  game. 

And  whan  that  chyld  wepte  other  cryde, 

The  lyonesse  was  hym  besyde  ; 

Onther  her  wombe  sche  wold  hym  hyde, 

And  yaf  hym  sowke,  6l© 

As  sche  that  bere  hym  fer  and  wyde 

Fourty  woke. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  183 

Good  wynd  and  whedyr  God  bem  sente  : 
Hy  drogh  vp  seylle  and  forth  they  wente. 
The  seuende  day  har  schyp  lente 

At  Japhet, 
And  euery  pylgrym  to  the  monument  e 

Hys  wey  geth. 

In  Jerusalem  sche  gan  dwelle, 

And  made  clothes  of  gold  and  pelle,  620 

And  Crystyne  marchauntys  hy  myght  selie 

That  sche  gan  werche  ; 
All  vestementys  that  felle 

To  holy  cherche. 

Her  sone  bygan  to  the  and  thryue, 
And  wax  the  fayryste  chylde  on  lyue. 
Tho  he  was  passed  yeres  fyue. 

He  was  y-sette 
To  lerne  gramer  that  wyll  dyscryue 

The  Donet.  630 

And  wher  the  chyld  yede  vp  other  doun, 
Wyth  hym  went  the  tame  lyoun. 
The  gret  lordys  of  renoun 

Thold  the  kyng, 
Whych  a  woman  yn  the  touu 

Was  whonyng. 


184  0CT0U1AN  1MPERATOE. 

And  what  a  chyld  sche  hath  y-broght, 
And  whych  workes  that  sche  wroght, 
And  the  lyoun  forsok  hym  noght 

With  hym  to  be.  640 

The  kyng  answered,  with  word  and  thoght, 

He  wold  her  se. 

Amorn  Florence,  withowten  wene, 
Was  broght  before  kyng  and  quene. 
The  kynges  baner  ther  schold  bene, 

Rychely  y-wroght ; 
To  maken  hyt  the  lady  schene 

Forsok  hyt  noght. 

In  the  quene  chamber  sche  woneth  dore 

Neghe  yere  and  sumdell  more  ;  650 

The  quene  maydenes  sche  hadde  to  lore 

More  and  lasse : 
But  sche  ne  told  no  man  her  sore 

The  emperesse. 

Neghe  yere  tho  sche  hadde  there  y-dwelled, 
Her  sone  was  fyftene  wynter  eld ; 
Stowtlyche  to  bere  spere  and  scheld, 

In  feld  to  fyght. 
The  kyng  that  pryns  beheld, 

And  made  hym  knyght. —  660 

8 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOK.  185 

Now  reste  we  here  a  lytyll  wyght, 
And  forther  telle,  as  hyt  ys  ryght, 
How  that  oder  chylde  was  dyght 

That  dwellede  yn  Fraunce. 
He  wax  a  man  of  mochell  myght, 

As  seyth  the  romaunce. 

The  bocher  yede  to  hys  wyf, 

"  Dame,  he  seyde,  so  mot  Y  thryf, 

Florent  ys  x.  yere  old  and  fyyf, 

And  heghe  y-woxe  :  670 

Forsoth  he  schall  my  mystyr  dryue 

Of  ken  and  oxe  ; 

"  For  ydell  hyne  for  to  fede, 
Thereto  hadde  we  lytyll  nede  : 
Ech  man  behoued  to  do  some  dede 

For  hys  sustynaunce. 
He  schall  tweye  oxen  to  feyre  lede 

For  all  chaunce : 

"  And  myn  other  sone  Bonefey 

With  hym  schall  wende  the  ryght  wey."  680 

That  wyf  therst  not  say  nay, 

For  wordes  ylle, 
But  grauntede  well  that  ylke  day 

Her  lordes  wylle. 


186  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

Amorwe  the  bestys  were  forth  broght, 
And  Florentyn  hy  wher  betoght. 
Clement  seyde,  "  Boy,  selle  hem  noght 

For  no  eggenges, 
Of  wat  men  they  be  boght, 

Than  sexty  schyllynges  :  690 

"  And  yf  thou  hem  sellest  lasse, 
As  Y  mote  here  matyns  or  masse, 
Or  thou  eft  fro  my  handys  passe, 

Y  haue  y-ment, 
I  woll  vpon  thy  body  tasse 

Well  many  a  dent." 

That  chyld  answerede  and  seyde,  "  Nay" 
The  bestys  thay  dryue  forth  yn  the  way. 
Ayens  ham  com  that  ylke  day 

A  stowt  squyere,  700 

And  bar  vpon  hys  ryght  hond  gay 

A  fayr  spreuere. 

Tho  seyde  that  chyld  Florentyn  : 

"  God  wold  that  sparhauk  were  myn  !" 

The  squyer  seyd  :  "  Be  Seynt  Martyn, 

Bocherys  sone, 
For  tho  two  oxen  be  he  thyn 

Thys  faucone." 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR*  187 

Florent  seyde  :  "  Syr,  wylt  thou  so  ? 

Tak  me,  and  haue  hem  bothe  two."  710 

Tho  made  hys  broder  moch  wo, 

And  sorfull  cry. 
The  bestes  were  dryue  hem  fro 

Ryght  hastyly. 

Florent  of  thys  hawk  hadde  prys  : 
Hys  brother  seyde,  he  was  vnwyys, 
And  seyde  :  "  Florent,  be  Seynt  Denys, 

We  schull  be  schent !" 
Thus  chydynge  thorgh  Parys 

The  chylderyn  went,  720 

That  hyt  herde  Clementes  wyf 
How  the  chylderen  held  stryf. 
Sche  seyd  :  "  Florent,  leue  lyf, 

Telle  me  why  ye  chyde." 
Florent  told  her  also  blyf 

How  hyt  betydde  ; 

And  how  he  hadde  the  hauk  y-boght, 
For  the  bestys  hym  were  betoghth. 
That  wyf  gan  thenke  yn  her  thoght 

The  merchauntyse,  730 

Of  cherles  kynde  was  he  noght 

For  hys  gentryse. 


188  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

Clement  com  horn  from  bocherye, 
And  herd  the  hauk  on  perche  crye  : 
In  hys  hert  he  thoghte  vylenye 

Swych  cry  to  here. 
He  askede  hys  wyf  ryght  hastylye, 

"Ho  broghte  hym  there  ?" 

Sche  seyde  :  "  Syr,  Y  wylle  tU  telle, 

Oo  word  Y  the  legge  n'elle,  740 

But,  for  hys  loue  that  made  heuene  and  helle, 

Now  be  noght  wroghth  : 
Florent  for  the  hauk  gan  selle 

Thyn  oxen  both." 

In  a  rage  Clement  hent  a  staf, 

And  Florent  fele  strokes  he  yaf, 

And  seyde,  "  Boy,  tellest  thou  noght  sef 

My  craft  to  lere, 
To  selle  motoun,  bakoun,  and  beef 

As  flesch-hewere  ?"  750 

"  Yys,  seyde  the  chylde,  syr,  at  your  wylle." 
For  hym  that  wyf  gan  crye  schylle. 
Clement  abated  hys  hert  ylle, 

And  lefte  hys  cheste  : 
To  sowpy  at  table  they  wente  tylle, 

Lest  and  mest. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  189 

Tho  Clement  hadde  y-yete  a  fyn, 
And  gladede  hys  hert  with  noble  wyn, 
In  he  clepede  Florentyn, 

And  to  hym  spak  :  760 

"  Now,  boy,  kepe  well  sperhauk  thyn, 

Withowte  lak. 

"  And  yf  he  dythe  for  faute  of  flesch, 
With  a  staf  Y  wol  the  thressche, 
Wombe  and  regge  ylyke  nesche, 

Yef  that  Y  kan." 
As  glad  as  grehond  y-lete  of  lese 

Florent  was  than  ; 

And  greydede  hys  hauk  yn  good  asyse, 

And  tok  of  foweles  greet  empryse,  770 

That  of  the  peple  of  Parys 

Hym  louede  myche, 
For  that  he  throgh  forthth  fayr  gentryse, 

And  yede  gentelyche. 

Longe  after  that  ne  was  hyt  naght, 
That  Florent  hadde  the  hauk  y-boght, 
Before  Clement  Vyleyn  he  broght 

Fesauntes  fyfe  : 
"  O,  seyde  Clement,  yet  fare  we  noght 

As  we  schulde  thryfe,  780 


190  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

"  To  fede  thus  ydell  boyes  tweye, 
Go  vp  and  doun  here  be  the  weye, 
Yef  that  Y  hem  suffre  thus  to  pleye 

I  were  to  blame. 
Florent  schall  lerne  to  chaunge  moneye  : 

How  sayst  thou,  dame  ?M 

That  wyf  answered  :  <l  Y  am  well  payd." 
Ten  pound  of  florens  were  forth  leyd. 
To  Florentyn  Clement  hath  seyd  : 

"  Thys  gold  go  chonge  :  790 

Loke  boy,  ne  be  naught  betrayd 

Of  kouth  ne  strange." 

As  he  toward  the  chounge  yode, 
He  bare  the  florens  yn  hys  hode  ; 
Vpon  a  colt  com  owt  of  stode, 

As  blak  as  cole, 
A  yong  man  com  ryde  with  egre  mode 

That  hadde  hyt  stole. 

Florentyn  well  fayr  hym  grette, 

And  askede  where  he  that  cole  fette.  800 

That  other  aunswerede,  withowte  lette, 

Wordes  felle  : 
"  For  Y  my  catell  theron  sette 

I  wold  hyt  selle  ; 


OCTOU1AN  IMPERATOR.  1<JI 

u  And  yf  thou  hyt  beyst,  withowt  lesynges, 
Thou  payest  me  ten  mark  of  sterlynges, 
For  noon  of  all  thy  elderynges 

Hadde  noo  swych  in  stabele  ; 
For  emperours  sone,  or  for  kynges, 

Hyt  ys  profytabele."  810 

Florent  answerede  to  the  corsere  : 

"  Me  thyngeth  thou  louest  hyt  to  there : 

Sterlynges  ne  haue  I  non  here, 

As  thou  gynnyst  craue  : 
Here  beth  ten  pound  of  florens  clere 

Wylt  thou  ham  haue 

For  that  colt  that  ys  so  bold  V — 
The  corser  seyd,  "  Tak  me  that  goold  : 
To  no  man  schuld  hyt  be  sold 

Half  swych  a  chepe."  820 

He  tok  the  floryns  all  vntold  ; 

Awey  he  lepe. 

Florent  no  leng  ne  wold  abyde  ; 
He  lepte  to  hors  and  gan  to  ryde. 
Folk  hym  byhold  be  ech  a  syde 

In  Parys  cyte  : 
What  hym  therafter  wolde  betyde 

Noght  wyst  he. 


1()2  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

Clement  hyt  herd  and  hom  gan  dryue, 

And  with  hym  other  bochers  fyfe  :  S30 

He  askede  Florent  all  so  blyue 

[Hou  he  had  wroght.] 
"  O  fader  the  fayrest  colt  alyue 

I  haue  boght." 

«  A  colt  ?  A  colt  ?  Wher  ys  hyt  ?  Where  ? 
What  thenkest  dow  be  an  horsmonger  .?"-— 
To  stable  they  wente  all  yn  fere 

And  segh  that  fole, 
Raggeth  and  hegh  and  long  of  swere, 

And  blak  as  cole.  84° 

Yef  he  were  er  y-bete  sore, 
Thanne  was  he  bete  moche  more. 
The  good  wyf  seyde  :  "  Syr,  thy  ore, 

Let  be  thys  fare  : 
He  n'as  neuer  of  thy  kynde  y-bore 

To  bey  the  ware. 

"  Thys  chyld  thou  neuer  begate  ; 
He  was  som  gentylmannes  beyete  : 
Tel  me  that  sothe  that  thou  ne  lete, 

Forsake  hyt  noght,  85° 

Where  thou  hym  fond  in  feld  or  strete 

Or  thou  hym  boght." 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  193 

Smerthe  logh  Clement  Wyleyn 

And  seyde  :  "  Dame,  Y  wyll  the  seyn ; 

But  loke  thou  me  neuer  bewreyn 

To  lowe  ne  hegh  ; 
For  yf  thou  dost,  be  Seynt  Germeyn, 

Thow  schalt  abeye. 

"  Tho  Y  com  next  from  the  Holy  Lond, 
Besyde  Marsyle,  vpon  the  strond,  860 

To  selle  that  chylde  there  Y  fond 

Owtlawes  four  ; 
I  boght  hyt  with  my  owen  hond 

For  my  tresour." 

"  I-heryd,  sche  seyde,  be  Goddys  sonde  ! 
Now  to  my  tale  thou  understounde  : 
The  emperour  of  Rome  lond, 

Thorgh  grace  and  chaunce, 
Weddede  hour  kynges  dowghter  with  hond, 

Fayr  Florence.  870 

"  And  sche  hadde  manchylderen  two, 
With  both  sche  was  exyled  do  : 
I  wene  well  hyt  myght  be  so 

That  thys  were  that  oon. 
Whare  sche  becam  for,  well  ne  wo, 

Man  n'este  noon." 

VOL.  III.  N 


880 


194  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATQE. 

Seyd  Clement :  "  Dame,  that  I  beleue, 
Be  hym  that  made  Adam  and  Eue, 
I  n'ell  no  more  thys  chylde  so  greue, 

For  no  gylt : 
Fynd  hym  thyself  to  hys  behoue 

All  that  thou  wyllt. 

"  For  be  thys  chyld  of  hem,  Y  wys, 
Thorgh  hym  Y  hope  to  wynne  prys 
More  than  any  man  yn  Parys, 

And  all  our  kende." 
The  good  wyf  seyd  :  "  Be  Seynt  Denys, 

Swyche  ys  my  mende." 

That  wyf  hym  taught  markes  and  poundes  ; 
He  purueyde  haukes  and  houndys. 
To  hounty  yn  ech  mannys  boundes 

Hyt  was  hys  wone. 
Men  blamede  the  bochere  oft  stoundys 

For  hys  sone. 

At  wrestelyng,  and  at  ston  castynge, 
He  wan  the  prys  without  lesynge  ; 
Ther  n'as  nother  old  ne  yynge 

So  mochell  of  strength, 
That  myght  the  ston  to  hys  but  bryng 

Be  fedeme  lengthe. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  19<5 

The  kyng  hym  louede  yn  herte  dere, 
So  dede  al  do  that  yn  Parys  were. — 
Now  ye  that  wyllyd  wonderes  here 

Harkened  meruayle, 
How  that  chyld  with  a  fendes  fere 

Dede  batayle ! 

Of  Babylonye  the  heghe  Sowdan 
Werrede  vpon  Crystene  men  : 
Bothe  into  hys  honde  he  wan 

Gales,  and  Spayne,  910 

Lumbardie,  and  ek  Tuskan, 

Rome,  and  Allemeyne. 

To  Fraunce  he  drof  the  Emperour, 
And  all  thes  kynges  of  valour. 
Our  partie  hadde  so  lytyll  socour 

Of  Crystendome, 
That  ech  lorde  lette  with  dolour 

The  se  of  Rome. 

The  Sowdan,  that  left  yn  Teruagaunt, 

With  hym  he  broght  a  fowll  geaunt  9*2,0 

Of  Egypte  ;  he  hette  Guymenaunt, 

Greet  as  an  ok  : 
No  dosyper  n'as  so  auenaunt 

To  stonde  hys  strok. 


930 


196  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

He  was  of  lengthe  twenty  feet, 

And  two  elle  yn  brede  with  scholdrys  greet : 

Ech  day  be  wold  et  a  neet 

And  messys  more  : 
Twey  tuxlys  out  of  hys  mouth  set, 

As  of  a  bore. 

A  greet  fot  was  betwex  hys  brym, 
Hys  browys  as  brystelys  of  a  swyn  ; 
Betweene  hys  fortop  and  hys  chyn 

Length  of  an  elle  : 
With  blake  yghen,  as  seyd  the  Latyn, 

He  lokede  felle. 

The  Sawdan  pyght  hys  pauylon 
At  Mout-Martyn,  vpon  the  doune  ; 
Eche  day  he  sente  to  toune 

That  fowle  thyng,  94° 

To  aske  batayle  with  rufull  roune 

Ayens  the  kyng  ; 

And  bad  hym  fynd  a  champioun 
To  feyght  with  that  foule  feloun, 
Or  Crystendom  schall  adoun 

Frain  euerych  man, 
And  euery  kyng  yelde  vp  hys  croun 
To  the  Soudan. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  197 

Ferst  they  sent  out  a  doseper, 

In  blake  armes,  vpon  a  destrere,  950 

Ouer  all  he  had  ben  a  conquerere, 

Swych  were  his  happys  : 
He  bar  thre  rochys  of  seluer  clere 

In  scheld  and  trappys. 

As  sone  as  he  with  the  Sarsyn  faught 
He  clefte  hym  at  the  ferste  draught : 
The  Sarsyn  cryde  :  "  Thes  ys  naught : 

Send  othyr  moo  ! 
Thus  they  schull  lye  long  straught 

Or  that  they  go."  960 

Amorn  hy  sente  a  doseper  sterne, 
The  kyngys  brodyr  of  Nauerne  ; 
He  n'as  naght  to  lerne, 

Or  than  yn  feld. 
Vpon  a  stede  he  gan  yerne 

With  sper  and  scheld. 

Hys  scheld  was  gold  an  asur  fyn, 
A  lyoun  rampant  was  theryn, 
Wyth  border  of  ermyn 

Scheld  and  trappure  ;  970 

But  soone  of  hym  the  Sarsyn 

Wan  the  cure, 


198  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

And  man  and  hois  he  clefte  tho. 

The  Sarsyn  cryde  :  "  Sende  other  mo  ! 

Swych  twenty  n'ere  wortht  a  slo 

At  me  to  fyght." 
Than  was  the  Kyng  of  Fraunce  wo, 

And  sore  syghte. 

Schortelych,  to  rede  yn  romaunce, 

He  slogh  the  xij.  dusepers  of  Fraunce,  9S0 

That  to  hym  ryde  with  spere  and  launce, 

Whan  they  out  come. 
Thys  was  vnhap  and  hard  chaunce 

To  all  Crystendome. 

And  Florentyn  ech  nyght  mette, 

The  quene  of  heuene  on  hors  hym  sette, 

And  bad  hym  wende  and  quite  hys  dette 

That  was  ber  fo  : 
She  seyde,  her  sone  that  balys  bette 

Het  hym  do  so. 

O  day  he  told  Clement  hys  sweuen  : 
"  I-heryed,  he  seyde,  be  God  of  heuen, 
And  graunte  the  for  hys  names  seuen 

To  wynne  the  fyght ! 
Yyf  our  kyng  here  my  steuen, 

Thou  schalt  be  made  knyght." 


990 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOIt.  199 

To  the  kyng  tho  went  Clement, 
And  seyd,  "  Lord,  here  my  talent ! 
My  sone  ys  ech  nyght  in  turment 

Ay  en  the  gyaunt :  1000 

He  schal  hym  scle  with  dethes  dent. 

Lord  o  thyng  me  graunt, 

"  That  ther  he  wende  ye  make  hym  knyght ; 
Yef  Goddes  grace  ys  on  hym  lyght 
He  schall  hym  wynne  yn  that  fyght, 

Withoute  mys." 
Tho  was  the  kyng  yn  herte  lyght, 

And  grauntede  thys. 

Amorn  was  Florent  knyght  y-made 

Ryght  as  Clemene  the  bocher  badde.  1010 

The  emperoure  of  Rome  was  glad, 

That  seyghe  hys  lengthe  : 
He  thoght  well  yn  hys  body  he  had 

Greet  myght  and  strengthe. 

Men  broght  hym  harnes  good  and  sure  ; 
He  n'old  noon  but  hys  fader  armure  : 
"  Theryn  I  hope  to  wynne  the  cure, 

Without  fayle, 
For  hyt  ys  strong  and  wyll  well  dure, 

Of  old  enteyle."  1020 


200  OCTOUIAN  1MPERATOR. 

Clement  of-sent  hys  armes  blyue, 
Swot-reed  hyt  was  and  euell  to  thys  schyue : 
Thereyn  of  syluer  bole-axys  fyue  ; 

The  scheld  of  sable. 
On  Florentys  stede  a  knyght  con  dryue 
Out  of  stabele. 

The  hauberk  was  all  reed  of  rust, 
Hys  platys  dykke  and  swyde  just ; 
Thaugh  the  gypon  were  full  of  dust 

Hyt  was  nat  wykke,  103° 

Theryn  to  turneye  or  to  juste, 

The  scheld  was  dykke. 

The  helm  was  of  queynte  kest, 
A  borys  heed  stood  on  the  crest. 
Whan  Florent  was  all  redy  drest 

In  hys  armure, 
Hys  fomen  myghte  of  hym  be  agast, 

We  mowe  be  sure. 


Two  bole-axys,  grete  and  longe, 

In  hys  former  arsun  were  y-honge,  1040 

With  cheynys  that  were  styf  and  stronge 

For  all  chauhce ; 
And  yn  hys  ryght  hond  he  gan  fonge 

An  huge  launce. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  201 

The  launce  was  swot  red  and  croked  ; 
Of  many  a  knyght  he  was  beloked  ; 
Tho  Clement  Florentyn  bytok  hyt 

Many  man  logh, 
And  Florentyn  naght  forsok  hyt 

They  hyt  were  wogh.  1050 

The  kyng  hym  gert  with  a  fauchoun ;  » 

Clement  hyt  hadde  y-bore  thorgh  many  toun : 
Thenne  on  hys  knees  he  satte  adoun 

Before  Clement, 
And  seyde  :  "  Fadyr  thy  benesoun 

With  good  entent ! " 

And  seyd  thus  er  he  gan  ryse : 
"  Whan  Y  am  ryde  out  of  Paryse, 
Hery  to  me  yn  thys  wyse  : 

u  Bocherys  sone,  1060 

Ley  on  strokes  with  good  empryse, . 

As  thy  fader  ys  wone ! 

And  denk,  boy,  thy  fader  hath  keld 
Well  many  a  bole  and  doun  y-feld  !" — 
The  emperour  that  syghte  beheld, 

And  the  kynges, 
And  on  hys  schulder  heng  hys  schelde 

To  bataylynges. 


202  OCTOUIAN IMPERATOK. 

Whan  he  was  on  hors  y-sette, 

Men  touched  trumpes  and  cornette  ;  1070 

At  Parys  gate  he  was  outlette 

In  feld  to  fyght : 
To  be  a  fend  hym  demede  bette 

Than  a  Crystyn  knyght. 

The  geaunt  hym  seghgh  and  com  doun, 
Ryght  fram  the  Soudaun's  pavyloun, 
With  sper  and  scheld  all  redy  boun, 

An  oo  rabyte  ; 
With  egre  herte,  as  lyoun 

Florent  he  smyte. 


1080 


Sothe  hy  smyte  togydere  tho, 
That  her  sperys  to-broste  at  two  ; 
The  peces  fell  fer  hym  fro 

Of  tymbres  toghe. 
Her  eyder  other  for  to  slo 

Swerdes  droghe, 

And  hewe  on  scheld  and  helmes  clere  : 

They  brosten  all  on  fere. 

The  Crystene  made  her  prayere 

To  Mary  sone  : 
The  Sarsyns  cryde  all  yn  fere 

To  hare  God  Mahone 


OCTOUIAN  1MPERATOR.  203 

To  help  her  geaunt  in  that  fyght : 
And  Florent  smot  a  strok  of  myght, 
The  rabytes  heed  he  cleuede  dounryght 

Thorgh  the  brayn. 
Tho  sayd  the  Sarsyn  :  "  Krysten  knyght, 

Thou  art  a  vyleyn, 

To  sle  my  hors  that  hath  no  gylt!v 

Seyd  Florente  chyld:  "  All  that  thou  wylt."  1100 

He  smot  eft,  and  be  the  hylt 

His  sword  to-brast : 
Tho,  forsode,  to  be  y-spylt 

He  was  agast. 

An  ax  he  hente  of  metall  broun 
That  heng  on  hys  formest  arsoun, 
And  of  hys  stede  he  lyght  adoun 

In  feld  to  fyght. 
The  Soudan  yn  bys  pauyloun 

Tho  was  aflyght.  1 1 10 

The  geaunt  smot  to  hym  well  snell 
With  a  scharp  fachoun  of  stell ; 
Of  Florentys  scheld  a  kantell 

He  cleft  thonryght. 
Clement  stode  in  oo  kernell 

And  segh  that  fyght. 


204  OCTOUIAN IMPERATOK. 

He  cryde  :  "  Boy,  ley  on,  with  yre, 
Strokes  as  ys  woned  thy  syre  ! 
He  ne  fond  neuer  boon  ne  lyre 

Hys  ax  withstent,  112° 

That  he  ne  smot  thorgh  ech  a  swyre 

Ryght  at  oo  dent." — 

Tho  Florentyn  herd  Clement  crye 
He  faught  with  ire  and  with  enuie. 
Thorgh  myght  of  Jesus  and  of  Marie., 

In  heuene  that  sytte, 
The  geauntes  schelde  in  two  partie 

Ryght  euene  he  smytte. 

The  geaunt  smot  to  hym  agayn ; 

Florentys  scheld  fell  yn  the  pleyn.  1 130 

Now  hy  beth  scheldles  both  tweyn 

These  champyouns  : 
Hy  foughte  togydere  with  egre  meyn 

As  wylde  lyouns. 

But  Florentyn  kedde  that  he  was  slegh, 

And  yede  the  geaunt  swythe  negh, 

And  smoot  hym  on  the  scholder  on  hegh 

A  strok  of  harm  ; 
Hys  scholderbon  awey  forth  flegh, 

And  hys  ryght  arm.  114° 


OCTOIJIAN  1MPERATOR,  205 

In  haste  the  geaunt  stupte  adoun, 

With  the  left  hond  to  take  vp  the  fachoun, 

And  Florentyn,  with  hys  ax  so  broun, 

All  thorgh  he  smoot 
Arm  and  mayle,  and  akketoun, 

Thorghoul  hyt  bot. 

Tho  both  hys  armes  were  y-tent, 
To  fie  the  geaunt  hath  y-ment ; 
But  Florentyn  yaf  hym  swych  a  dent 

As  he  forth  flegh,  11.50 

That  the  geaunt  to  grounde  ys  wept 

Theygh  he  wer  heygh. 

Hys  aduentayle  he  gan  vnlace, 
Hys  hed  he  smoot  of  yn  the  place. 
The  Cristene  thonkede  of  hys  grace 

The  kyng  of  glorye, 
And  niaden  game  and  greet  solace 

For  that  victorye. 

Now  schull  we  forth  yn  ryme  rede, 

How  Florentyn  y-dede  an  hardy  dede,  ll60 

Er  he  went  horn  fram  the  mede 

Into  the  cyte. 
Herkened  lordyngys  hou  hym  gan  spede 

For  charyte ! 


106  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

Ther  was  a  mayde,  fayr  of  face, 

The  ryche  Sowdanes  doghtyr  hyt  was ; 

Her  pauylon  besyde  that  plas 

Was  yn  to  dwelle  ; 
Thyderward  Florentyn,  well  good  pas, 

He  rood  full  snelle.  1170 

That  hed  he  heng  on  hys  arsoun, 
And  rod  to  the  maydyns  pauyloun  ; 
He  fond  that  mayde  of  greet  renoun 

Er  he  hyt  wyst, 
And  of  hys  stede  he  lyght  adoun, 

And  swete  her  kyste. 

He  wold  haue  rauysched  her  away  ; 
Sche  cryde  and  made  greet  deray, 
But  yn  hys  ryght  hond  left  that  day 

Her  surkot  sleue,  1180 

To  telle  the  tokene  that  he  her  seygh 

Men  schuld  hym  leue. 

Tho  come  Sarsyns  so  greet  plente, 
That  nedes  he  most  fyght  and  fie. 
He  rod  to  Parys  to  the  cyte  ; 

Men  openede  the  gate, 
With  ioye  and  greet  solemnyte 

He  was  yn-late. 


OCTOUIAN   IMPERATOR.  207 

That  hed  was  on  the  gate  y-set, 

With  trumpes,  tabours,  and  cornet.  1 190 

Tho  was  the  bocher  loued  bet 

Than  he  was  ere ; 
And  for  hys  loue  that  craft  ys  set 

Ther  prys-mestier. 

That  mayde  that  was  so  fayr  and  gent, 
Her  loue  sche  leyde  upon  Florent ; 
For  hym  sche  was  yn  greet  turment 

Both  day  and  nyght ; 
To  se  hym  sche  hadde  more  talent 

Eftyr  with  syght.  1200 

Vpon  a  day  sche  feynede  her  seke ; 
Her  fathyr  com  and  with  her  spek, 
And  with  hym  many  leches  ek, 

To  wyte  her  state. 
Sche  seyde  :  "  My  lyf  ys  not  worth  a  lek  ; 

I  am  all  mat, 

"  But  ye  graunt  me  my  prayere, 
That  my  pauylon  stande  by  the  riuere  : 
For  wymmen  beth  of  swyche  manere, 

All  tendere  and  nessche,  1210 

They  mote  be  by  the  water  clere 

Both  to  wrynge  and  wessche." 


208  OCTOU1AN  IMPERATOR. 

The  leches  her  wytnesse  bere  ; 
Her  fadyr  the  pauylon  lete  arere 
Besyde  the  bank  of  the  water  clere, 

To  haue  that  eyr : 
Hak  sche  gan  her  fader  yghe  blere  ; 

Thys  tale  ys  fayr. 

A  massenger  sche  sent  well  ryght 

To  Florentyn,  that  Crysten  knyght,  1220 

That  he  schold  come  with  meyn  and  myght 

Dedyr  yn  a  bot, 
And  rauyssche  her  that  ylke  nyght, 

Anon  fot-hot. 

Whan  Florent  herde  that  tydynge 
For  ioye  hys  herte  begon  to  sprynge  : 
He  dede  greyde  yn  the  euenynge 

The  kynges  barge  : 
Onther  Pont-graunt  he  gan  her  brynge 

With  schelde  and  targe.  1230 

Vyf  and  twenty  bachelers, 
That  hadde  ben  hys  pleyferys, 
I-arined  in  the  best  maneres 

In  feld  to  fyght, 
They  wente  forth  with  the  marenerys 

Abowte  mydnyght. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  209 

Good  wynd  and  wedyr  they  hadde  at  wylle, 
And  seylede  forth  well  soft  and  stylle ; 
Her  pauyloun  whan  they  com  tylle 

Ther  that  sche  was,  240 

Her  maydenys  gonne  to  crye  schylle : 

"  Treson,  alas  ! " 

That  cry  aros  ynto  all  the  ost: 

"  As  armesy  lordynges,  as  armes  tost ! 

Our  Soudanes  doghter,  with  greet  bost, 

Is  rau\  ssched  vs  fro ! 
Now  folwen  we  to  the  wateres  cost, 

And  sle  our  fo." 

The  marners  gonne  seyle  and  rowe  : 

Florent  let  the  trumpettys  bio  we,  1250 

That  yn  the  cyt£  men  schuld  knowe 

That  hy  wer  all  sount. 
Yet  were  hy  er  day,  Y  trowe, 

Onther  Grauut-pount. 

That  mayde  was  ynto  the  cyte  fet ; 
Of  many  greet  lord  hy  was  y-greet, 
And  yn  a  chayer  sche  was  y-set, — 

Ye  mowe  trusty, — 
And  askede  yf  sche  hadde  aught  yet 

Wyll  Crysten  to  by.  £60 

VOL.  III.  o 


210  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

And  sclie  answerede  and  sayde :  "  Nay, 
Mahoun  lawe  ys  well  the  better  lay/' 
But  Clement  prechede  so  to  her  that  day 

In  Sarsyn  speche, 
That  sche  was  crystened  yn  Goddes  lay, 

For  dowte  of  wreche. 

Florent  her  weddede  to  hys  wyf 
To  haue  and  to  holde  yn  ryght  lyue. 
Ryche  robes,  be  four  and  fyyf, 

Ther  menstralles  wonne.  1270 

Joy  and  blysse  ther  was  ryue 

In  Parys  begonne. 

Seuen  dayes  ylyke  hyt  leste, 

The  bredale  and  the  dubby ng  feste, 

Ther  was  many  a  ryche  jeste 

Of  Rome  and  Fraunce. 
But  now  of  Clement  ye  mowe  lest 

A  wonder  chaunce. 

The  last  day  hy  were  at  mete  y-set, 

Clement  har  manteles  hath  byschet :  1280 

He  seyde  they  most  rekene  bet 

To  pay  har  scot, 
Of  mete  and  drynke  that  was  y-fet 

To  quyte  ech  grot. 


OCTOTJIAN  IMPERA.TOR.  211 

He  bygan  ferst  at  the  emperour  : 
"  Pays,  seyd  the  kyng,  par  amour, 
Thagh  hyt  wer  swych  four 

As  her  ys  spend, 
I  wyll  hyt  quite  of  my  tresour, 

Clement  my  fiend."  1290 

"  Graunt  marcy,  my  lord  the  kyng ! " 
The  manteles  he  let  to  the  haile  bryng, 
And  swore  that  ther  n'as  old  ne  yyng, 

That  ne  schold  haue  led 
For  hys  scotte  euery  ferdyng, 

Or  lore  hys  wed. 

The  knyghtys  logh  yn  the  halle, 

The  mantellys  they  yeue  menstrales  alle ; 

Lauor  and  basyn  they  gon  calle, 

To  wassche  and  aryse,  1300 

And  syth  to  daunce  on  the  walle 

Of  Parys, 

Whan  the  Soudan  thys  tydyng  herd, 
For  jre  as  he  wer  wod  he  ferd ; 
He  ran  with  a  drawe  swerde 

To  hys  Mamentrye, 
And  all  hys  goddys  ther  he  amerrede, 

With  greet  enuye. 


212  OCTOUIAN IMPERATOR. 

Asterot,  Jopyn,  and  Mahoun 

He  all  to-hew  with  hys  fachoun,  1310 

And  Jubiter  he  drew  adoun 

Of  hys  autere  : 
He  seyde,  hy  n'er  worth  a  scaloun 

Alle  y-fere. 

Tho  he  hadde  hys  goddys  y-bete, 

He  was  abated  of  all  hys  hete. 

To  sende  hys  sendys  n'olde  he  naght  lete, 

Thp  anoon  ryght, 
To  Babylonye  after  lordes  grete 

To  help  hym  fyght.  1320 

The  messangers  beth  forth  y-went 
To  do  the  Soudans  commandement. — 
Now  schull  we  speke  of  Clement 

The  bocher,  Y  wys  : 
He  tok  with  hym  hys  sone  Florent 

For  greet  queynteys, 

And  yede  to  the  Soudans  dowghter  dere, 
And  preyde  her  fayre  yn  all  maner, 
Som  queyntyse  sche  scholde  hem  lere, 

How  that  he  myghte  1330 

Do  her  fadyr  hys  ost  arere, 

And  horn  hym  dyghte. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  213 

Sche  seyde  :  "  Yf  ye  denketh  spede, 
To  my  tale  now  taketh  hede  ; 
My  fadyr  hath  an  horned  stede 

Of  Arabye, 
Whyle  he  hym  hath  dar  hym  naght  drede 

Of  your  maystrye. 

"  No  man  may  on  that  stede  ryde 

But  a  bloman  be  hym  bysyde,  1340 

That  hath  y-kepte  hym  fer  and  wyde 

Fram  Grece  to  Troye  : 
For  he  hym  maketh,  with  moche  pride, 

A  nyse  coye. 

"  The  coye  ys  with  hys  handys  two, 
Clappynde  togedere  to  and  fro  ; 
He  ys  swyftyr  than  ony  roo 

Vnder  lynde  : 
In  ech  bateyle  he  well  slo 

Before  and  behynde.  1350 

"  An  vnycorn  begat  that  fole 

On  a  rabyte,  as  blakke  as  cole." 

Than  seyd  Clement,  "  He  schall  be  stole 

With  som  queyntys ;" — 
And  bad  that  counsel  1  schuld  be  hole 

Sty  lie  yn  Parys. 


£14  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

Pyk  and  palm,  schryppe  and  slaueyn 
He  dyghte  hym  as  palmer,  queynt  of  gyn  : 
Be  Seyne  water,  seyd  the  Latyn, 

Without  bost,  l$6° 

Maryners  hym  broghte  to  the  maryu 

Of  Gene  cost. 

He  turnede  abowte  Galys  and  Spayne, 
Lumbal  dye  and  also  Almeyne  ; 
Of  other  palmers  he  gan  frayne 

Lesynges  quaynte, 
As  ech  man  behouyd  that  ys  yn  payne 

Hys  tale  paynte. 

Be  the  Soudanes  est  whan  he  was  come, 

Well  hastylyche  he  was  y-nome  :  1370 

Before  the  Soudan,  the  greet  gome, 

Seruantes  hym  broghte. 
Now  herkeneth,  frendes  all  and  som, 

How  Clement  wroght ! 

The  Soudan  askede,  whannes  he  cam. 
He  seyde  he  com  fro  Jerusalem, 
Fram  the  sepulcre  of  Bedlem, 

In  pylgremage, — 
"  And  ther  Y  haue  lette  myn  em 

For  strong  hostage."  1380 


.OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  £15 

Whannes  he  was  men  gon  hym  freyne : 
He  seyde  he  was  of  Greet-Breteyne, — 
"  In  Artour's  court  a  man  of  mayne 

I  haue  y-be  yore  : 
Of  hys  greet  hors  Y  was  wardeyne 

Sene  yere  and  more." 

For  to  blere  the  Soudanes  ye 

Queynte  lesynges  he  gan  to  lye, 

And  seyde  he  hadde  lerned  marchalsye, 

Both  fer  and  neygh ;  t  1390 

In  Ynde,  Europe,  Aufryke,  and  Asye, 

Ther  n'as  noon  so  sleygh  ;  ' 

And  all  maner  of  hors  he  knew, 

^othe  the  lake  and  the  vertu. 

"  Ther  ys,  he  sayde,  Cristen  neyther  Jew 

That  conne  me  teche." 
The  Soudan  that  was  blak  of  hew, 

Logh  of  hys  speche. 

The  Soudan  savde :  "  I  haue  a  stede," — 

(He  swere  as  Mahon  schuld  hym  spede) —    1400 

"  Yf  thou  kanst  telle  all  the  dede 

Of  hys  kende, 
Thou  schalt  haue  of  me  riche  mede 

Ere  that  thou  wende." 


216  OCTOUIAN IMPERATOB. 

The  stede  was  broght  out  of  stable : 
The  bloman  hym  ladde  with  a  cable. 
Tho  seyde  Clement :  "  Without  fable, 

O,  ser  Soudan, 
In  the  world  [n']ys  hors  so  profy table 

As  thou  hast  oon.  A 4 10 

"  Thys  ys  a  stede  of  Arabye, 
Be  hys  horn  I  gan  hyt  aspye, 
An  vnycorn,  with  greet  maystrye, 

Begat  hyt  thare : 
A  rabyte,  Y  se  hyt  with  my  ye, 

Therto  was  mare. 

"  Hyt  ys  swyfter  than  hert  other  hynde, 
Or  ro  that  renneth  vnder  lynde ; 
He  feyght  before  hym  and  behynde 

In  ech  batayle.  1420 

Ther  n'ys  no  man  of  Crysten  kynde 

That  myghte  the  asayle, 

*  Whyle  thou  on  thy  stede  houyst." — 
Tho  hadde  the  Soudan  wonder  mest, 
And  seyde :  "  Palmer,  ryghtly  thou  arest 

All  the  maner. 
Dai st  thou  ryde  vpon  thys  best 

To  the  ryuere, 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  217 

"  And  water  hym  that  thou  ne  falle  ? 

Thanne  wylle  we  seye  among  vs  all,  1430 

That  thou  hast  be  yn  Artourys  halle 

Hys  prys  marschalle, 
And  therfore  a  robe  of  ryche  palle 

Y  yeue  th£  schall." 

Clement  nere  the  stede  stapte, 

He  whyslede  and  hys  hondys  clapte  ; 

Thorgh  Godes  grace  well  he  hapte, — 

He  n'as  noght  ydell, — 
In  the  stedes  mouth  he  rapte 

An  huge  brydel.  1440 

The  brydel  was  made  of  chaynys, 
Of  grete  haspys  wer  the  reynys. 
Eries,  barons,  knyghtes,  and  swaynes 

Of  Clement  spak, 
How  he  lepte  with  myght  and  maynes 

On  the  stede  back  ; 

And  with  a  peyre  sporys  of  Speyne, 

He  smot  the  stede  with  myght  and  mayne, 

And  rood  ryght  ouer  the  water  of  Seyne 

Ryght  to  the  cyte.  1450 

The  Emperour  of  Almeyne 

That  syght  gan  se, 


218  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOlt. 

And  lette  opene  the  gettys  wyde, 

And  Clement  yn  began  to  ryde. 

The  Soudan  began  vp  hys  godes  chyde 

For  that  myschaunce. 
Clement  presentede  with  that  stede 

The  Kyng  of  Fraunce. — 

Now  schull  we  lete  here  of  Clement 

And  telle  how  the  Soudan  sent :  1460 

Hy[s]  massengers  wyde  beth  went 

To  dukes  and  kynges  ; 
And  broght  with  hem  many  stout  cent 

Of  greet  lordynges. 

Ferst  com  the  Kyng  of  Arabye, 
And  ten  thousand  on  hys  partye 
Of  Sarsyns  stout  and  trye 

In  feld  to  fyght : 
The  worst  of  hys  companye 

Was  worth  a  knyght.  1470 

The  Soudan  of  Pers  broghth  hys  Persanys, 
And  thyrty  dousand  of  Affrycanys, 
With  reed  baners,  and  theron  thre  swanes 

Of  syluer  bryght  : 
To  brewe  the  Crystene  mennys  banys 

Hy  hadden  tyght. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  219 

The  Kyng  of  Grece  com  after  than 

For  to  helpe  her  Soudan, 

With  syxty  dousand  of  hedene  men, 

To  fyght  yn  field  :  H80 

Har  amies  wer  gowles  and  swan 

Trappure  and  scheld. 

Tho  come  the  Kyng  of  Masedonye, 

And  the  Amerelle  oi  Babylonye, 

With  many  galeys,  schyppes,  and  floynej 

W  ith  chevalrye, 
And  aryuede  at  Boleyne 

In  Normandye. 

No  man  ne  may  telle  the  route 

That  besette  Parys  aboute  :  1490 

The  Crystene  were  yn  greet  doute 

To  deye  yn  haste  ; 
They  roonne  to  the  walles  stoute 

To  scheete  and  to  kaste  : 

And  they  withoute  gynnes  bente, 
And  greet  stones  to  hem  sente 
Four  wykys  they  gonne  hem  defende 

With  greet  trauayle  ; 
And  toke  day  at  the  monthys  ende 

Of  playn  batayle.  1500 


220  OCTOUTAN IMPERATOR. 

The  day  of  batayle  was  y-come, 
And  ech  man  hadde  hys  armes  nome. 
The  Soudan  was  a  sterne  gome 

For  hys  greet  host ; 
Ayens  the  Crystene  he  sette  scheldtrome, 

With  pryde  and  host. 

Whan  ayder  ost  gan  other  asayle 
Ther  began  a  strong  batayle  ; 
To  rede  yn  ryme  hyt  ys  meruayle, 

Englys  to  schew  1510 

How  many  helmes,  hauberkes  sauns  fayle 

Ther  wer  to-hewe. 

Tho  myghte  men  se  Florent  fyght, 
And  sle  the  Sarsyns  doun  ryght  : 
Well  many  Sarsyns  heed  doun  lyght, 

And  ley  dyspleyd  : 
But  all  to  lytyll  was  hys  myght, 

He  was  betrayde, 

And  y-take,  as  seyd  the  romaunce ; 

Anon  aftyr  hym  the  kyng  of  Fraunce.  1520 

Tho  was  Octouian  yn  balaunce 

The  emperour, 
He  was  y-take  with  greet  destaunce, 

And  other  kynges  four. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOB.  221 

The  deyse  syx  baners  were  y-feld, 
And  the  Crystene  that  syghte  beheld  ; 
Ech  man  fleygh  with  spere  and  scheld, 

Awey  to  fare. 
The  Soudan  drof  hem  yn  the  feld, 

As  hond  doth  the  hare.  1530 

Well  ten  dousand  greet  lordynges, 
Dukes,  erles,  barones,  and  kynges, 
The  Soudan  sent  yn  jryn  rynges, 

To  Babylonye  : 
Hem  ladde  the  kyng,  withoute  lesynges, 

Of  Masedonye. 

The  Kyng  of  Greece  hem  ladde  also 
With  syxty  dousand  men  and  mo. 
The  Soudan,  that  was  Goddys  fo, 

Bleft  yn  Fraunce,  1540 

Cytes  to  brenne,  and  folk  to  slo, 

With  greet  meschaunce. 

Clement  fleygh  and  hys  wyf  yn  fere, 
Into  Gascoyne  as  ye  mowe  here, 
And  also  the  Soudanes  doughter  dere 

With  hem  gan  tie  ; 
In  slaueynys  as  they  palmers  were 

Yede  alle  thre. 

8 


222  OCTOUTAN  IMPERATOR. 

Now  lete  we  be  the  werre  of  Fraunce, 

And  the  Soudan  with  hys  bobaunce,  1556 

And  turne  ayen  to  fayre  Floraunce, 

How  that  sche  kem 
For  to  dwelle,  thorgh  Goddes  grace  and  chaunce, 

In  Jerusalem. 

Here  son  was  doughty  knyght  of  dente, 
In  batayle  and  yn  turnamente  ; 
To  ech  a  stede  the  kyng  hym  sente 

He  wan  the  fyght  ; 
Hys  lyonesse  the  folk  to-rente 

All  donright  :  1560 

For  whyder  he  to  batayle  yede 

Hys  lyonesse  halpe  hym  at  hys  nede  ; 

He  armede  her  yn  jryn  wede 

To  all  ryghtes, 
Of  her  folk  hadde  more  drede 

Than  of  fyfe  knyghtes. 

Than  com  a  messangere  goynge 
To  Jerusalem,  and  broghte  tydynge 
How  the  Soudan  gan  doun  biynge 

The  Emperour,  1570 

And  of  Fraunce  also  the  kynge, 

And  other  kynges  four  ; 


OCTOUIAN  1MPERATOR.  223 

And  how  he  was  towardes  Rome, 

And  doghte  to  destroye  all  Crystendome  ; 

And  howe  the  Crystene  that  they  nome 

Schuld  aryue 
At  Acrys,  whan  they  to  lende  come, 

With  kynges  fyue, 

And  the  Emperour  of  Almeyne. 

"  O,  seyde  the  kyng,  that  ys  greet  peyne ;      1580 

Wende  I  woll  hem  agayne 

And  sauy  ech  pece, 
And  sle  with  hondes  tweyne 

The  Kyng  of  Grece." 

Anoon  the  kyng  sente  hys  sonde 
Wyde  aboute  ynto  all  hys  londe, 
For  erles,  barons,  fre,  and  bonde, 

Squyer,  and  knyght, 
And  dede  hem  alle  to  vntherstonde 

Of  the  Soudanes  fyght ;  1590 

And  how  he  hadde  the  kynges  j-nome 
And  destruyd  the  Cristen  all  and  some. — 
Tho  that  ost  was  togedere  y-come 

Of  Crystene  men, 
They  hadde  to  holde  scheldes-trome 

With  Soudanys  ten. 


224  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

Ten  dousand  knyghtes  stout  and  fers, 
Without  hobelers  and  squyers, 
Speriiien,  slyngers,  and  arblasteres, 

There  was  plente.  l6o° 

They  wente  toward,  in  armes  clers, 

Acrys  cyte. 

Yonge  Octouian,  withoute  fayle, 
Was  banerrere  of  that  batayle. 
The  Sarsyns  for  to  asayle 

He  was  full  prest ; 
Besyde  Acrys,  yn  a  boschayle, 

They  token  rest. 

Of  fute  they  hadde  dousandes  four, 

In  armes  al  so  whyt  as  flowr,  l6H> 

Therynne  a  croys  of  reed  colour, 

Seynt  Georgys  armys, 
And  euerych  was  yong  vauyssour 

With  good  gysarmes. 

At  Acrys  as  they  gonne  aryue, 
The  emperour  and  the  kyngs  fyfe, 
And  many  Crysten  men  alyue, 

In  hen  y-steke, 
The  kyng  of  Jerusalem  cam  dryue 

Ham  to  awreke.  l62° 


OCTOU1AN  IMPERATOR.  225 

Tho  began  greet  werre  awake, 
Scheldes  cleuede,  and  speres  brake  : 
Among  the  Sarsyns  blake 

The  Crysten  ryde  : 
All  that  they  myghte  with  wepene  of-take 

They  ther  abyde. 

The  Kyng  of  Masydonye  com  ryde 

With  hys  ost  alond  that  tyde, 

And  hys  Sarsyns,  "  As  ermes,  cryde, 

We  beth  betrayd ;  1630 

Of  Jerusalem  the  banerys  wyde 

We  seth  dysplayd." 

The  Kyng  of  Grece  herde  that  cry  ; 
To  lond  he  rowede  ryght  hastyly, 
Ten  dousan  Sarsyns  ryde  hym  by  ; 

Tho  he  vp-kem, 
Hem  mette  the  kyng,  with  hys  party, 

Of  Jerusalem. 

In  haste  they  smy  te  togydere  anon 

The  Crysten  men  and  Goddys  foon  ;  1640 

Octouian  leyde  an  well  good  won 

That  day  yn  feld, 
Well  many  he  clefte  the  scholder  bon, 

All  thorgh  the  scheld. 

VOL,  III.  P 


22 


OCTOUIAN  IMPEKATOR. 


Hys  lyonesse  adon  gan  race 

All  that  sche  tok  yn  body  and  face  : 

Myracle  hyt  was  of  Goddys  grace 

That  sche  so  fyght ; 
Alas  !  sche  was  that  day  yn  place  ^ 

To  deth  j-dyght. 

Tho  Octouian  hyt  vnderstode 

Hys  beste  y-slawe,  he  wax  all  wod  ; 

He  hente  a  spere,  with  egre  mood, 

And  bare  with  strengthe, 
Thorgh  the  kynges  body-of  Grece  hyt  stode 

A  fedme  of  lengthe. 

That  dede  cors  fell  doun  to  grond, 
Gronyngwithgryslywounde; 
And  tho  the  Sarsenes  afounde 

Her  lord  was  slayn, 
Enerych  to  fle  away  that  stounde 
Was  ferly  fayn. 

All  that  Octouian  that  day  ther  hytte, 

To  the  herte  he  hem  slytte  ; 

No  man  ne  myghte  with  strengthe  asytte 

Hys  swordes  draught ; 
Hyght  as  a  werrour  out  of  wytte 
That  day  he  faught. 


1660 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  227 

He  slogh  the  Kyng  of  Masedonye 

And  amyrall  of  Babylonye.  iQjq 

In  hare  galeys,  dromouns,  and  fleyne 

They  schypede  agayn, 
And  aryuede  besyde  Babylonye, 

Both  knyght  and  sweyn. 

In  armes  that  owghte  the  Sarsyns  deede 
The  Crysten  knyghtes  gonne  hem  screde. 
The  Kyng  of  Jerusalem  gan  lede 

The  ferst  batayle ; 
Melk  whyte  armes,  yn  ryme  I  rede, 

Was  hare  parayle.  iqqq 

Of  fute  they  hadde  dousandys  ten, 
And  four  dousand  Octouyan. 
Well  sory  were  the  heden  men, 

Tho  that  hyt  seghe, 
Hare  baners  ouer  felde  and  fen 

Arered  so  heghe. 

The  Kyng  of  Fraunce  com  with  hys  ost 

Alond  vpon  hys  owene  kost. 

The  Crysten  herethe  the  Holy  Gost 

For  hys  comynge.  iQqq 

The  Soudan  made  bobaunce  and  bost 

For  that  tydynge  ; 


228  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

And  seyde,  with  a  ruly  roun, 

W  Now  thyn  help,  God  Mahoun  !"— 

And  yn  hys  baner  a  reed  dragoun 

He  lette  arere, 
And  bad  hem  be  to  batayle  boun 

That  with  hym  were. 

The  thyrthe  ost  ledde  the  Kyng  of  Speyne, 
With  fyfty  dousand  men  serteyne.  1700 

The  emperour  of  Almeyne 

Octouian 
With  hys  ost  he  com  agayn 

The  Soudan. 

The  fyfte  ost,  seyde  the  Frenssch  tale, 
Ladde  the  Kyng  of  Portyngale  ; 
To  brewe  the  Sarsyns  bale 

He  was  full  sterne. 
Tho  brought  hys  ost  the  kyng  reall 

OfNauerne.  17i0 

Whanne  all  thes  baners  wer  arered 

The  Sarsyns  wher  sore  aferd  ; 

The  Soudan  quakede  body  and  berd 

For  dedys  dowte, 
And  seyde  :  «  We  dye,  lewed  and  lered, 

But  we  be  stoute. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR*  229 

"  Stow[t]lyche  stere  we  vs  yn  werre, 
And  boldelyche  our  baners  bere, 
And  make  offeryng  to  Jubytere 

And  Seynt  Mahoun  :  1720 

Than  by  my  lay  Y  dare  well  swere, 

They  schull  adoun." 

Whan  he  hadde  made  hys  sacrifyce, 
With  all  hys  ost  he  gan  aryse  : 
Now  mowe  ye  here  fayre  aprise 

Alle  and  some, 
How  the  Sarsyns  vnwyse 

Were  ouercome. 

Tho  eyder  ost  with  other  mette, 

With  scharppe  sperys  togeder  hy  grette;        1730 

The  Crystene  men  hare  strokes  sette 

In  feld  so, 
That  quyt  they  were  of  the  Sarsyns  dette 

For  euermo. 

The  kyng  of  Jerusalem  gan  bere 
To  the  Soudan  of  prise  a  spere  : 
There  ne  halp  hym  naght  yn  werre 

Hys  God  Mahoun, 
That  he  ne  rorede  as  a  bere 

Whan  he  fyl  doun.  1740 


1750 


230  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

Doun  he  fyll  deed  to  grounde, 
Gronynge  fast  with  grymly  wounde. 
Alle  the  baners  that  Crysten  founde 

-They  were  abatyde  ; 
There  was  many  an  hethen  hounde 

That  they  chek  yn  a  tyde. 

Among  hys  ost,  the  kyng  of  Fraunce, 
To  the  hygh  Soudan  he  bare  a  launce. 
Therewhyle  hyt  tellyd  yn  romaunce 

The  emperour 
Slogh  of  hedene,  thorugh  grace  and  chaunce, 

Kynges  four. 

Yonge  Octouian  and  Florentyn 

Ther  faughte  as  werrors  good  and  fyn ; 

Ther  myghte  non  hethen  Sarsyn 

Withstonde  hare  dent. 
Well  many  soules  to  helle  pyn 
That  day  was  sent. 

So  many  men  and  hors  were  dede 

The  ryuers  ronne  of  blod  all  rede  ;  17  w 

The  chas  leste,  of  length  and  brede, 

Myles  ten. 
Ther  myght  no  Saresyn  kepe  hys  hede 

For  Crystene  men. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  231 

Whan  this  batayle  was  com  to  ende, 
To  Parys  the  emperour  began  wende, 
And  with  hym  aile  the  kynges  hende 

Of  Cristendome. 
The  Soudanys  heed  they  gonne  sende 

To  greete  Rome,  1 770 

And  sette  hyt  on  the  hyyeth  toure. — - 
Thanne  Dagabers  and  the  emperoure 
Fastede  fourty  dayes  and  foure, 

Thus  tellyth  the  gest ; 
And  thonked  God  oure  Sauyoure 

Of  that  conqueste. 

Now  reste  we  here  and  turne  agayn, 
And  speke  we  of  Clement  Vylayne : 
I  tolde  yow  ynto  Aquytayne 

He  fleygh  for  fere,  1780 

To  saue  hym  and  wymmen  tweyne 

That  were  hym  dere. 

He  herde  telle,  withoute  les, 
How  the  Souda[n]  y-slawe  wes, 
And  yn  France  plenere  pes 

Was  cryde,  and  gryth  ; 
Thyther  he  went  rathly  res, 

Hys  wyf  hym  with  : 


232  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

With  hym  the  Soudanes  doghter  went 

In  a  slaueyne  rough  and  rent.  1790 

Tho  they  were  yn  present 

To  the  emperour, 
The  kyng  of  Fraunce  kest  Clement 

With  greet  honour. 

With  greet  honour  Syr  Florentyn 
Keste  Clement  with  hert  fyn, 
And  sey  :  "  Welcome  fadyr  myn, 

Be  God  above, 
Thou  hast  y-suffyred  myche  pyn 

For  my  loue."  1800 

"  Thou  seyst  soth,  sone,  Y  vnderstonde." — 
Hys  wyf  he  tokk  her  be  the  hond, 
Before  lordys  of  the  londe, 

Olde  and  yynge ; 
Glad  was  erl,  baroun,  and  bonde 

Of  her  comyng. 

That  day  Clement  was  made  a  knyght 
For  hys  er  dedes  wys  and  wyght ; 
Atte  hys  feste  Florence  bryght 

Beknew  her  lord.  1810 

Here  may  ye  here  yn  romaunce  ryght 

Well  kende  acord. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  233 

Florence  was  broghth  ynto  the  halle, 
Before  the  greete  lordes  alle ; 
Doun  on  knees  sche  gan  falle 

To  the  emperour ; 
"  Mercy,  lord,  sche  gan  calle> 

For  thyn  honour ! 

"  I  am  thy  wyf  that  hat  Florence  ; 

That  ys  my  fader  the  kyng  of  Fraunce.  1830 

I-dryue  Y  was,  thorugh  greet  destaunce> 

From  ken  and  kyghth  : 
I  wene  no  woman  more  myschaunce 

Ne  hadde  neuer  syghth. 

"  Tweyn  yonge  sones  Y  with  me  bare  : 
That  on  ys  the  knyght  that  stondyt  thare ; 
That  other  becam  Y  n'yst  neuer  whare 

In  that  forest ; 
Thys  day  ys  fyfe  and  twenty  yere 

That  Y  sawe  hym  last.  1830 

"  A  lyonesse  thys  bare  me  fro, 

And  Y  suede  after  with  sorow  and  wo  : 

A  gryffon  bare  hem  bothe  two 

To  the  sky  an  hygh. 
Karfull  was  myn  herte  tho 

Whan  Y  hyt  seygh. 


234  OCTOU1AN  IMPERATOR. 

"  I  suede  hem  to  the  Grekyssch  see, 
And  com  to  Brandyght  to  the  cyte  : 
Ther  Y  soiournede  monethes  thre, 

And  tok  my  rede  184° 

In  that  stede  to  dwelle  and  be 

Ther  God  was  ded. 

"  I  gan  to  schypye  at  ryuage, 
With  pylgryms  of  fele  langage  ; 
The  wynd  aros  with  a  wod  rage 

And  wederys  fyle, 
And  drof  vs  from  our  pylgrymage 

To  a  wast  yle. 

"  In  that  yle,  thorugh  Goddys  grace, 

I  fond  my  chyld  lye  yn  oo  place,  1850 

Onther  a  lyone  body  and  face, 

With  whelpys  tweyne : 
I  toke  my  sone  and  ran  good  pas 

To  schyp  agayne. 

"  The  lyonesse  me  folowede  ay, 
And  forsok  her  whelpys  twey  ; 
In  schype  by  my  sone  sche  lay 

As  a  noryse. 
We  seylede  forth  the  seuende  day 

To  hedenesse.  l86° 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOK.  235 

w  Into  hethenesse  whan  Y  cam 

My  wey  Y  tok  to  Bedleem, 

And  syth  Y  dwellede  yn  Jerusalem 

With  kyng  and  quene, 
And  taught  her  maydenys  werk  of  sem 

Yerys  fyftene. 

"  The  kyng  my  sone  made  knyght, 
And  me  sustenede  day  and  nyght. 
My  lyonesse  was  slayn  yn  fyght, 

That  doth  me  greef ;  1870 

Thy  modyr  tresoun  hath  me  dyght 

All  thys  myschef." — 

Tho  Florence  hadde  her  tale  y-told, 
Before  the  lordes  yonge  and  old, 
The  emperour  with  herte  cold, 

Octouyan 
In  hys  armys  he  here  fold, 

And  keste  her  than  ; 

And  seyde :  "  Welcom  lemman  Florence, 

For  the  schall  falle  greet  veniaunce."  1880 

Syr  Dagabers  the  kyng  of  Fraunce, 

Keste  her  tho  ; 
For  ioye  all  that  seygh  thys  chaunce 

In  hert  were  wo. 


£36  OCTOTJIAN   IMPERATOK. 

Whan  they  were  seght  alle  yn  same, 
And  Florence  herde  Florentynes  name, 
Sche  swore  her  oth  be  Seynt  Jame 

Also  prest, 
So  hyght  my  sone  that  was  take  fra  me 

In  that  forest. 

"  Oo,  seyde  the  emperour  without  oth, 
I-lyk  of  semblaunt  be  ye  both  ; 
But  be  colour  of  har  cloth 

N'ys  noon  other  inne 
That  schold  hem  knowe,  certeyne  forsoth, 

Be  syeght  atweyne." 

The  emperour  and  kynges  thre 

Tok  Clement  yn  pryuete, 

And  seyde  to  hym  with  hert  fre  ; 

"  Now  Syr  Clement, 
Telle  vs  the  sothe  for  charite 

Of  Syr  Florent, 

In  what  manere  that  thou  to  hym  come ; ^ 
For  hym  begaat  the  emperour  of  Rome."— 
«  Oo,  seyde  Clement,  be  my  cristendome, 

In  ryght  soth  sawes, 
Besyde  Marcyle  ageyns  me  come 
Four  outlawes, 


1900 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  €37 

**  And  chepede  me  that  chyld  to  sale, 

For  sy  sty  florencys  all  be  tale  :  1910 

For  emperales  that  were  not  smale 

I  bought  hym  thare, 
And  trussed^;  hyni  yn  my  male, 

And  horn  hym  bare. 

"  For  my  sone  I  kepte  hym  thore 
Thys  four  and  twenty  yer  and  more ; 
I  ne  tolde  hyt  neuer  man  before 

But  my  wyf." — 
An  old  knyght,  with  a  berde  ful  hore, 

Herde  this  stryf ;  1920 

And  seyde :  li  Lordynges,  herkened  thys ! 
Now  fyf  and  twenty  yer  hyt  ys 
Be  oo  forest  I  rood  amys, 

In  wayys  wylde, 
A  female  ape  Y  mette,  Y  wys, 

Berynge  a  chylde  ; 

"  And  of  my  palfray  doun  Y  lyght, 
VS  ith  the  ape  for  to  fyght, 
And  ther  Y  here  to  dede  dyght 

In  a  lytell  stounde.  1930 

On  me  sche  made, — yet  bereth  syght ! — 

Many  a  wounde. 

8 


238  OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOlt. 

"  That  chyld  Y  tok  vp  as  yerne, 
And  lepte  to  hors  and  gan  to  erne. 
I  com  vpon  owtlawes  sterne 

Four  and  twenty, 
That  the  chyld  ne  thorst  Y  ham  werne 

Ne  my  rouncy. 

"  That  tyme  byfyll  me  thys  destresse 

That  fayre  Florence  the  emperesse,  1940 

Was  y-dryue  with  greet  falsnesse 

Out  of  Rome."— 
The  emperour  hys  sones  gan  kesse 

Oft  and  lome. 

Thanne  hem  keste  kynges  and  knyght, 
Erlys,  barons  and  ladyys  bryght, 
And  ofte  thankede  Gooes  myght 

In  trinite. 
Thus  God  kan  turne  wrong  to  ryght 

Thorugh  hys  poste.  1950 

The  old  emperesse  was  of-sent, 
And  hadde  the  same  jugement 
That  sche  to  Florance  hadde  y-ment 

Longe  beforn  : 
For  her  tresoun  sche  was  y-brent 

In  fyyr  of  thorn. 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR.  239 

Thus  clerkys  seyth  yn  her  wrytynge, 
That  falsnesse  cometh  to  euel  endynge. 
Jesus  vs  to  hys  blysse  brynge, 

Both  old  and  yonge,  I960 

As  he  for  vs  on  the  rode  hyng 

Wyth  spere  y-stonge ! 


EXPLICIT  OCTOUIAN. 


SIR  AMADAS. 


VOL    III. 


9 


SIR  AMADAS. 


[One  leafy  on  which  the  beginning  of  this  Romance  was  writ- 
ten, has  been  torn  away  in  the  MS.  The  sense  is,  however,  easily 
discoverable.  Sir  Amadas,  it  appears,  had  been,  like  Sir  Cleges, 
(see  Vol.  I.  p.  331.)  very  bounteous,  and  had,  in  his  liberality , 
squandered  away  his  possessions  to  all  around  him.  Some  one9 
probably  his  Steward,  had  recommended  retrenchment ;  and,  in 
consequence  of  this  advice,  the  Knight  takes  the  resolution 
with  which  the  present  copy  opens.] 

^F         "7F         *7F         tF         *?F         *tF         rn*         ^F         *|f» 

Thoffe  Y  owe  syche  too/' 
Downe  sate  Sir  Amadas  and  hee, 
And  kast  how  that  best  myght  bee, 

Both  far  and  nere  : 
a  My  lord,  he  seyd,  ye  owe  more 
Than  ye  of  yowre  londes  mey  reyr, 

Of  all  this  seyvon  yere  : 
Who  so  best  mey  Y  schall  hym  prey, 
And  take  of  hym  a  lenger  day, 

And  leyt  your  covrte  slepe  here  ;  10 

Putt  away  mony  of  yore  men, 
Hold  not  won  the  ye  er  held  ten, 

Thof  thei  be  neuer  so  dere." 


244  SIR  AMADAS. 

"  What !  seyd  Sir  Amadas,  schuld  Y  spare 
Tyll  all  my  dettes  qwytte  ware, 

And  Y  the  whyle  noght  spend  ; 
And  dwell  here  ther  Y  was  borne, 
Ay  in  hethyng  and  in  skorn, 

So  wyle  as  Y  am  kende  ? 
Hartely  myght  thei  warry  me,  20 

That  of  ther  gud  had  ben  so  fre, 

To  gyffe  me  and  to  sende ; 
And  Y  schuld  them  bost  and  threte, 
And  therof  myght  non  geyte  : 

Be  the  rode,  that  wer  a  badde  ende  ! 

"  Bot  nay,  Y  will  noght  soo, 
Myn  owne  consell  Y  wyll  do : 

Hyd  sorro  is  better  than  sene ! 
Stywarde,  as  thou  art  me  lefe 
Lat  no  mon  wytte  of  my  myschefe,  30 

Bot  heyle  hit  hus  betwene. 
Seyvon  yere  weddeseytt  my  londes, 
To  the  deyttes  that  ar  woonde 

Be  qwytte  all  bedene ; 
And  owtte  of  cuutre  wille  Y  wende, 
To  Y  haue  gold  and  syluer  to  spende, 

And  owt  of  deytte  be  clene. 


SIR  AMADAS.  245- 

g<  Bot,  sartenly,  or  that  Y  fare, 
Y  wyll  be  more  ryall  and  grettare : 

Porve  therfore  Y  schall."—  40 

Ryche  gyfftes  ther  he  gafe 
To  knyghttes  and  to  sawyers  bathe  ; 

To  pore  men  dalt  his  dale. — 
u  Yf  men  myghtt  wytte  that  me  wer  woo, 
Sum  wold  be  feyn  that  Y  wer  soo  ; 

That  myghtt  not  bete  my  bale. 
So  curtes  a  mon  was  neuer  borne, 
That  schuld  schape  withowt  a  scorn, 

Be  that  yche  mon  have  told  is  tale." 

Sir  Amadas,  as  Y  yow  say,  50 

Buskyd  hym  apon  a  day, 

On  his  way  to  fovnde. 
He  gaffe  ther  ryche  gyfftes 
Bothe  to  sqwyars  and  to  knyghttes, 

Stedes,  hakes,  and  howndes : 
And  sythyn,  apon  a  day, 
He  buskyd  hym  on  hys  jornay. 

Hastely  in  that  stonde. 
When  he  was  redy  and  schuld  furthe  wende, 
He  had  in  cofors  no  more  to  spende  60 

Bot  bare  forty  pownde. 


246  SIR  AM  ADAS. 

And  yette  he  toke  his  palfray 
And  rode  forthe  on  is  jornay, 
Als  fast  as  he  euer  myght. 
Betwene  a  forest  and  a  cete, 
He  fonde  a  chapell  of  ston  and  tre, 

And  saw  therin  greyt  lyghtte. 
Then  commandyd  Sir  Amadas  anon 
A  mon  to  loke  or  thei  gwon, 

And  boyd-worde  bryng  hym  ryght. 
The  mon  dyd  as  his  meyster  bad, 
Bot  suche  a  sauer  as  he  ther  hade 
No  longer  dwell  he  myghtte. 

Over  his  heyd  he  drw  his  node, 
And  to  the  chapell  dore  he  yode 

Mo  anters  for  to  here. 
He  loked  in  at  a  windo  of  glas, 
For  to  wytte  what  therin  was, 
And  ther  he  fownde  a  bei  e  : 
A  bere  he  saw  and  candyls  too, 
A  womon  syttand  and  no  moo, 

And  scho  made  sympell  chere. 
Ther  myght  he  no  lenger  dwell, 
Bot  yede  is  mayster  ageyn  vntyll, 
And  told  what  he  saw  theyr  ;— 


70 


80 


SIR  AM  ADAS.  247 

"  Y  saw  a  bere  and  candyls  too, 
A  womon  syttand  and  no  moo, 

And  scho  was  carefull  of  redde : 
Bot  seche  a  savor  as  Y  had  ther 
In  gud  feythe  Y  feld  ner;  90 

Y  trow  hit  wyll  be  my  dedde." 

Then  commandyd  Sir  Amadas 
Hys  sqwyar  to  loke  what  ther  was, 

"  And  redy  worde  bryng  thou  mee." 
He  rydes  forthe  to  the  chapell-wall, 
And,  as  the  mon  seyd,  he  saw  all, 

And  thoght  full  grette  pyte. 
For  to  wyn  the  gold  so  reyd 
He  myght  not  abyde  in  that  sted 

Suche  a  savor  had  hee.  100 

His  lorde  he  yede  ageyn  vntyll, 
And  seyd,  "  Sir,  yf  hit  be  your  wyll, 

Ye  mey  wytte  for  me." 

The  knight  smot  is  palfrey  with  is  spor, 
And  rode  to  the  chapell  dor ; 

Down  theyr  he  lyght. 
As  thei  seyd  sothe  hym  thoght, 
Bot  therfor  leyve  wold  he  noght, 

Bot  in  went  the  knyght. 


248  SIR  AMADAS. 

il  Gud  devon,  dame,"  seyd  he.  110 

"  Sir,  sche  seyd,  welcum  yow  be/' 

.And  salod  hym  anon  ryght. 
"  Sey,  leve  dame,  what  dos  thou  here, 
Kepyng  the  ded  cors  on  bere, 

Thiselfe  thus  here  on  nyghttes  ?" 

"  Sir,  Y  schall  yow  tell  for  why. 
God  wot  ther  wold  non  hot  Y  ! 

He  was  my  weddyt  feyr." 
li  Petur !  seyd  Amadas,  he  fares  full  yll 
Ye  ar  lyle  in  poynte  to  spy  11 ;  120 

He  Iygges  or  long  on  bere. 
Dame,  what  maner  mon  was  he  ?" 
"  A  marchande,  sir,  of  this  cuntre, 

And  had  greyt  rentes  be  yere. 
Ylke  a  yere  a  hondei  te  pounde 
Of  money  that  was  gud  and  sownde, 

And  yett  for  deytt  he  Iygges  here." 

"  Tell  me,  dame,  for  the  rode, 
On  what  maner  spend  he  is  gud, 

1  hat  it  his  so  away?"  130 

"  On  knyghttes,  sqwyers,  and  offycers  ; 
On  greyt  maysters  that  wer  is  pers, 

He  gafe  thain  gyfftes  ay  : 


SIR  AMADAS.  249 

Ryall  festes  wold  he  make, 

And  pore  folke,  for  Goddes  sake, 

He  wolde  fede  ylke  a  day  : 
Whoso  wolde  cum  to  is  yate, 
And  aske  owghth  for  Godes  sake, 

He  cowd  not  say  horn  nay. 

"  And  yeit  he  wroght  more  lyle  a  fole :  140 

He  clad  mo  men  ayeyns  the  Yole 

Then  dyd  a  greyt  knyght. 
Ther  myght  no  mon  is  bred  so  we, 
Nor  no  draper  is  clothe  drawe, 

His  meyt  was  redy  to  ylka  wyghth. 
When  Y  seyd  he  dyd  not  wele, 
He  seyd,  God  schuld  pay  for  ylke  a  dyll 

And  sette  my  wordes  full  lyght, 
To  we  had  so  mykell  in-tane, 
That  we  myght  not  say,  for  schame,  150 

What  gud  that  we  ther  aght. 

"  Then  com  deyd,  so  wo  hit  be, 
And  partyd  my  dere  husbond  and  me, 

And  kast  me  in  all  the  care. 
When  thei  wyst  that  he  seke  lay, 
Thei  com  yerne  with  greyt  afray, 

To  kalange  ther  gud  thare. 


250  SIR  AM  A  DAS. 

Hors,  neyt,  schepe,  and  swyne, 
All  that  was  my  husbondes  and  myn 

Away  thei  had  and  made  all  bare.  1 60 

My  dowry  and  oder  thyng  Y  sold, 
And  all  the  pennys  to  them  Y  told  ; 

Yette  axte  thei  mykyll  mare. 

"  When  Y  payd  all  that  Y  myght  geyte, 
Yette  owde  we  XXXli  pownde  in  grete, 

Only  to  a  styd, 
To  a  marchande  of  yonder  cete  ; 
He  was  owt  of  this  cuntre, 

And  come  when  he  was  deyd. 
When  he  wyst  of  my  wreched  fare,  170 

He  come  lyke  a  breme  bare ; 

This  cors  the  yerthe  he  forbede. 
He  seyd,  the  hovvndes  schuld  the  flesch  drawe, 
And  the  bownes  in  the  felde  away  throwe  : 

That  makes  this  carefull  reyd. 

"  Sextene  wekes  have  Y  sytton  here, 
And  kept  my  hosbond  on  this  bere, 

With  candyls  dey  and  nyght. 
So  schall  Y  do  euer  and  oo, 
Tyll  deyd  com  and  take  me  to,  180 

So  helpe  me  God  Almyght!" 


SIR  AMADAS.  251 

"  Dame,  what  is  the  marchandes  name, 
That  hase  wroght  yow  all  this  blame  ?" 

Sche  tolde  hym  what  he  hyght. 
"  Now  he  that  is  bot  of  bale, 
Helpe  yowe  well,  and  so  he  schall ! 

My  leve  dame,  have  gud  nyght !" 

Sir  Amadas  toke  his  palfrey  than  : 
He  was  a  full  sory  man  ; 

His  deydes  he  hym  forthoght :  190 

"  This  mon  Y  myght  wele  be  sybbe, 
That  he  apon  the  bere  thus  lygkes  : 

For  as  sche  says  thus  have  Y  wroght." 
He  cald  apon  his  sompter-mon  : 
"  At  the  marchandes  hows  owre  yn  thou  tak  on ; 

On  hym  is  all  my  thoghtt. 
Loke  thou  dyght  owre  soper  be  tyme, 
Of  delycyous  meytes  gud  and  fyne, 

And  that  thou  spare  ryght  noght.,, 

The  mon  dyd  as  the  lord  hym  bad  ;  200 

A  reyde  wey  to  the  town  he  had. 

He  spyrd  to  the  marchandes  yn  ; 
And  when  he  to  his  \n  come, 
His  lordes  soper  he  dyght  full  sone, 

Of  gud  meytes  and  fyne. 


252  SIR  AMADAS. 

Be  that  the  soper  was  dyght, 

Sir  Amadas  was  com  and  don  lyght, 

And  hit  was  soper  tyme. 
He  commandyd  a  sqwyar  to  goo 
To  byd  the  marchande  and  is  wyfe  also  210 

That  nyght  to  sope  with  hym. 

The  sqwyar  dyd  as  the  lord  command  ; 
The  marchande  in  his  halle  he  fand, 

And  preiyd  hym  as  he  con. 
The  marchand  seyd  full  redy  sone, 
"  Thi  lordes  wylle  schall  be  downe ; 

Y  wyll  com  to  that  mon." 
The  bord  was  seyt,  the  cloth  was  layd, 
The  soper  was  all  redy  grey  thy  d. 

The  marchandes  wyfe  began.  220 

Sir  Amadas  made  bot  lytyll  chere, 
Bot  on  the  deyd  cors  on  the  bere, 

Full  mykell  his  thoght  was  than. 

He  seyd,  "  As  Y  come  be  the  strette, 
A  syghtte  Y  saw,  Y  thynke  theron  yette ; 

Therfore  my  hart  his  sare  : 
In  a  chapell  be  the  way, 
A  body  on  a  bere  lay ; 

A  womon  ther  sate  with  mykell  care." 


SIR  AMADAS.  253 

u  Yee,  seyd  the  marchand,  God  gyff  hym  yll  grace, 
And  all  suche  wastars  as  he  was,  230 

That  make  men  wonder  bare  ! 
Ther  lygges  he  with  my  XXXn  pownde ; 
Ylka  a  peny,  bothe  hole  and  sownde, 

Therof  geyt  Y  no  mare." 

"  Forgyf,  seyd  Sir  Amadas,  God  forgyfes  the  deyd, 
And  turne  the  to  a  better  reyd  ; 

Grete  mede  then  schalt  thou  have. 
Thenke,  how  God  has  ordend  for  the, 
A  better  state  then  euer  had  hee  ;  240 

His  bwones  thou  do  grave." 
"  Nay,  sir,  be  hym  that  made  mon, 
His  body  schall  in  no  yerthe  gon 

Or  Y  my  catell  have  ! 
And  thofe  scho  dee  as  wyle  as  hee, 
Than  schall  howndes,  that  men  mey  see 

Wastars  bwones  gnave." 

Sir  Amadas  harde  that  he  had  sworne  ; 
He  callyd  his  sqwyar  hym  beforne, 

Hastely  and  swythe  ;  250 

"  Loke  thou  drawe  forthe,  at  o  worde, 
XXXU  pownde  on  this  borde, 

Letle  hus  see  belyfe." 


254  SIR   AMADAS. 

Tho  sqwyar  thoght  that  was  no  skyll  ; 
Bot  he  fullfyllyd  his  mayster  wyll  : 

Of  kyndenes  mey  you  lythe. 
The  niarchand  was  peyd  XXXtJ  pownde  fyne, 
And  Sir  Amadas  cummandyd  the  wyn, 

And  bad  ylk  mon  be  blythe. 

Then  sey  the  knyght :  "  Is  ther  any  mare  ?"    260 
"  Nai,  sir,  he  seyd,  wele  motte  ye  fare ! 

J  have  that  ye  me  hyght." — 
"  And,  als  far  as  x.  pownde  wyll  take, 
J  schall  gare  do,  for  that  monnes  sake, 

Soo  that  he  have  ryght. 
J  schall  gare  for  hym  rede  and  syng, 
And  worchypfully  into  the  yerthe  bryng, 

In  all  his  neyburs  syght. 
Pray  all  relygyous  men  of  this  ceyte, 
To-morne  that  thei  dyne  with  me.  270 

And  loke  hor  mete  be  dyght." 

At  morne  when  the  dey  began  to  spryng, 
All  the  belles  of  that  cety  he  gard  to  ryng 

That  soole  for  to  plese. 
All  the  relegyne  of  that  towne, 
Ageyn  the  cors  yede  with  processyon, 

With  mony  a  ryche  burges. 


SIR  AMADAS.  9,55 

He  gard  XXXli  prestes  that  day  syng  ; 
Sir  Amadas  offerd,  withowt  lesyng, 

Truly  at  ylke  a  masse  ;  280 

And  he  preyd  horn  then  also, 
That  thei  wold  to  the  innes  go, 

The  more  and  the  lasse  : — 

a  Hyt  is  in  the  deyd  name  that  Y  speyke  ; 
He  preys  yow  all  vnto  the  meyte 

The  pepull  that  ar  here  ;" 
All  thei  dyd  as  Sir  Amadas  bad  : 
Delycyous  meytes  ther  thei  had, 

And  drynkes  that  wer  dere. 
Sir  Amadas  wold  not  sytte  that  day,  290 

Bot  pore  folke  he  servyd  to  pay  ; 

Thei  ley  his  hart  full  nere. 
When  thei  had  eyton  and  dronkon  also, 
Sir  Amadas  toke  his  lefe  to  goo, 

Semyng  with  gud  chere. 

When  all  the  folke  hat  wele  eyton, 
His  palfrey-mon  had  noght  forgeyton 

He  broght  forthe  his  palfrey. 
Sir  Amadas  was  redy  dyght, 
Bot  wher  he  schuld  dwell  that  nyght  300 

He  had  no  mony  to  pay. 


256  SIR  AMADAS. 

No  wonder  was  thoffe  hym  wer  wo, 
When  all  his  gud  was  gon  hym  fro, 

Sarten,  sothe  to  say. 
He  kyd  he  was  of  gentyls  borne  : 
The  grattes  maysters  yede  hym  beforne  ; 

He  toke  his  lefe  and  went  is  way. 

He  rydes  forthe  on  his  jurnay  ; 
Than  con  ylke  mon  to  oder  say, 

Or  euer  he  past  the  yate,  310 

"  Lord,  wereuer  he  this  gud  wan, 
That  thus  garres  to  do  for  this  man, 

And  thus  lyghtly  lettes  hit  skappe  ?" 
Som  seyd,  in  gud  tyme  was  he  borne, 
That  myght  have  a  peny  hym  beforne  ; 

Bot  thei  knew  not  his  astate  : 
Thus  mey  ylke  mon  oder  deme, 
Thei  know  full  lytyll  what  thei  mene  ; 

Noght  all  sothe  watte. 

When  thei  passyd  the  cety  fro,  320 

Thei  come  to  the  yate  thei  schulde  parte  in  too ; 

Then  seyd  Sir  Amadas 
To  his  sqwyer  and  to  his  knafe, 
And  to  is  somter-mon  bathe, 

The  folke  that  with  hym  was  : 


SIR  AMADAS.  257 

u  Feylos  take  hit  noght  to  grefe  ! 
Nedes  behovis  yow  to  take  your  leve  ; 

Wele  yow  ken  my  case. 
Y  wyll  no  men  in  londe  leyde, 
Bot  Y  myght  tham  clothe  and  feyde,  330 

Nor  gwo  into  no  plase." 

The  hardeste  hartyd  mon  that  was  there, 
Thei  weppyd  and  made  mornyng  chere, 

When  thei  hard  hym  speyke  soo. 
"  Bys  mery,  he  seyd,  and  have  no  kare  ; 
Ye  schall  have  gud  maystyrs  euermare, 

Ye  ar  wele  worthy  thertoo. 
God  mey  helpe  hus  full  wele  at  nede, 
And  sende  hus  grace  wele  to  spede  I 

All  care  mey  yette  ouergoo  :  340 

A  mery  mon  ye  mey  me  see, 
And  ye  schall  be  dere  welcum  to  me, 

For  Y  schall  neuer  be  your  foo." 

Sir  Amadas  seyd  in  that  stonde  : 

"  The  warst  hors  is  worthe  ten  pownde 

Of  horn  all  that  here  gon  : 
Sqwyar,  yomon,  and  knave 
Ylke  mon  his  owne  schall  have 

That  he  syttes  apon  ;  .   . 

VOL.  III.  R 


360 


258  SIR  AMADAS. 

Sadyll,  brydyll,  and  oder  geyre,  350 

Fowre  so  gud  thofTe  hit  were, 

J  woch  hit  save  bi  Sen  Jon  ! 
God  mey  make  yo  full  gud  men  ! 
Cryst  of  hevon  Y  yo  beken  !" — 

Thei  weped  and  partyd  ylke  on : 

And  hymselve  turnyd  his  palfrey 
And  rode  foi  the  on  his  jurney, 

Ryght  as  he  has  mynt. 
Vnder  a  forest  ther  his  way  ley, 
Certenly,  as  Y  yowe  sey, 

To  wepe  he  myght  noght  stynt, 
When  he  thoght  on  his  londes  brode, 
His  castels,  his  towres  wher  leyd  to  weyd, 

How  all  was  gwon  and  tynt ! 
Mykell  sorro  he  made  in  that  sted, 
And  in  pouerte  he  fro  them  fled  ; 

His  dedes  he  con  forthenke. 

"  Now  am  he  Y  that  noght  has, 
As  of  a  mon  that  sumtyme  was 

Full  mykyll  seyt  by.  37° 

Ther  Y  had  an  hondorthe  marke  of  rent ; 
Y  spentte  hit  all  in  lyghtte  atent, 

Of  suche  forlok  was  Y. 
5 


SIR  AMADAS.  259 

Ay  whylyst  Y  howsewold  helde, 
For  a  greytte  lorde  was  Y  tyld, 

And  mykell  Y  was  sette  by  : 
Now  mey  whyse  men  dwell  at  home, 
And  foles  be  full  whyse  of  won  ; 

God  wotte  so  am  Y  ! 

"  Alas,  for  wantyng  of  wytte,  380 

As  a  fole  Y  am  for-flytte, 

Of  my  frendys  have  made  my  foos  ; 
And  all  for  my  gud  wyll 
Y  am  in  poynt  for  to  spyll !" 

Thus  chydes  Syr  Amadas. 

"  Now,  God  that  dyed  on  rode, 
And  boght  me  with  his  precyos  blode, 

Me  and  all  myne, 
Os  lette  me  neuer  come  in  ther  syght 
That  hase  me  kent  a  gentyll  knyght,  390 

That  thei  me  neuer  kenne  ; 
And  gyffe  me  grace  noght  to  come  tho, 
At  my  londes  that  ar  wonde  me  fro 

Bot  Y  myght  helpe  my  men  ! 
Or  els,  Jesu,  Y  aske  thd  reyd 
Astely  that  Y  wer  deyd  : 

Therto  God  helpe  me  then  !" 


260  SIR  AMADAS. 

By  the  forest  as  he  fard, 

He  wende  ther  had  no  man  hym  hard, 

For  he  sa  non  in  syght.  400 

Ther  com  rydyng  an  on  hym  by, 
And  spake  to  hym  so  hastely, 

That  he  was  afryght, 
On  a  mylke  whyte  stede, 
The  same  colour  was  his  wede  ; 

He  was  areyd  lyke  a  knyght. 
Thoffe  Sir  Amadas  wer  in  mornyng  broght 
His  curtasy  forgatte  he  noght, 

Bot  salud  hym  full  ryght. 

He  spake  to  hym  of  that  case  :  410 

"  What  mon  art  thou  this  mornyng  mase, 

With  syche  sympell  chere  ? 
Thou  schuld  not  morne  on  this  wyse : 
A  man  may  falle  and  yette  ryse, 

Goddes  helpe  his  ay  nere  ! 
Gud  is  bot  a  lant  lone 
Sumtyme  hasse  a  mon  oght,  sumtyme  non, 

Thou  hase  many  a  pere. 
J  trowe  thou  wolde  luffe  hym  ouer  all  thyng 
That  the  wolde  owt  of  mornyng  bryng,  420 

And  of  thi  mykell  care. 


SIR  AMADAS. 


261 


"  Here  before  ther  dwelles  a  kyng, 
He  has  a  doghter  feyr  and  yonke  ; 

He  lufFes  nothyng  mare  : 
And  thou  art  the  semelyst  knyght, 
That  euer  Y  saw  in  my  sygbt, 

Or  ony  armer  beyre. 
Ther  schall  no  mon  hur  wed  ne  welde, 
Bot  he  that  beyres  hym  best  in  feld  ; 

He  schall  wyn  her  theyre.  430 

"  Thou  schalt  cum  theder  also  gay 
As  any  eyrthely  mon  may  ; 

In  thi  feylyschyppe  schall  be  non. 
Sey  the  folke  that  come  with  the, 
That  thei  be  drownyde  in  the  se, 

Weddurs  hase  horn  slon. 
Loke  that  thou  be  gud  and  luffand, 
And  drawe  gret  lordes  to  thi  hand, 

And  that  thou  spare  ryght  non. 
Weyte  thou  be  large  of  pey  and  hete,  440 

To  thou  have  nobell  courte  and  grete, 

And  Y  schall  qwyte  ylkon. 


Q62  srR  AMADAS. 

"  Loke  thou  be  large  of  pay  and  wage, 
And  Y  schall  pay  thi  costage, 

Ten  thosand  thoffe  thou  leyd. 
Ther  schall  thou  wyn  greyt  reynown, 
Frythe,  fyld,  towre,  and  towne, 

And  that  lade  weydde. 
Sython  schall  Y  cum  to  the, 
In  what  place  so  euer  thou  be,  450 

Among  thi  frenchyppes  in  that  steyd. 
Bot  this  coftand  Y  make  or  that  we  goo, 
That  thou  schalt  part  betwys  hus  too 
Of  all  thyng  that  thou  spede." 

Than  seyd  Sir  Amadas  : 

"  Yf  ye  be  comm  thro  Goddes  grace, 

For  to  com  ford  me, 
Ye  schall  fynde  me  gud  and  leyll, 
For  to  depart  gud  and  catell, 

Betwene  hus  too  trole." — 
"  Fare  now  wele,  Sir  Amadas, 
Thou  schalt  wyrke,  thro  Goddes  grace, 

And  he  schall  be  with  the." 
Sir  Amadas  seyd,  "  Have  gud  day, 
And  ye  schall  fynde  me,  yf  Y  may, 

Als  trew  as  mon  mey  bee" 


460 


SIR  AMADAS, 


263 


He  wente  hym  down  be  the  sonde  : 
So  mony  broken  schyppes  he  fonde, 

That  selcouthe  was  to  see. 
Folke  fordryvon  in  the  schores,  470 

Knight,  with  men  of  armes  and  banors, 

Brone  stedes,  whyte  and  gray, 
All  maner  of  ryches, 
That  myght  be  or  his, 

Wrekkyd  with  the  water  lay. 
Chystes  and  cofers  full  thei  stode 
Of  tresour  that  was  rych  and  gud, 

No  mon  bare  noght  away. 

The  robe  that  the  knight  hym  in  clad, 

Hyt  was  of  a  gold  webbe,  480 

A  rycher  myght  non  bee. 
The  stede  that  he  apon  rode, 
A  feyrer  myght  no  mon  bestrod, 

In  turnament  to  see  : 
This  betyd  besyde  a  towre. 
After  befell  hym  greyt  honour, 

Besyde  that  feyr  cete. 
The  kyng  hymselfe  saw  hym  with  syght, 
And  his  doghtter  feyr  and  bryght 
The  turnament  that  for  schuld  be.  490 


264  SIR  AMADAS. 

The  kyng  saw  the  knyght, 

And  his  doghtter  that  swete  wyght ; 

Messangers  then  he  chase, 
His  one  styward,  and  knyttes  thre  : 
"  Goo,  wytte  of  hym  and  tell  yo  me, 

What  his  commyng  his. 
Say,  his  gud  schall  be  temde, 
Holy  into  his  one  hande, 

Truly,  withowtten  lesse. 
YfT  he  wyll  oughtte  that  ye  kan  do,  500 

Loke  ye  be  redy  therto, 

Yffe  he  be  comyn  in  peyse\ 

Thei  wente  down  be  the  sond 
And  toke  the  knyght  be  the  hond, 

And  sowne  thei  con  hym  sayn  : 
11  Owre  lord  the  kyng  send  hus  heder, 
To  wytte  your  comeyng  all  togeyder ; 

The  sothe  at  yow  to  frayn. 
He  seys,  your  godes  schall  be  temd 
Holy  into  yowr  owne  hende,  510 

Sertan,  withowten  leyn. 
Yff  ye  wyll  oghtte  that  we  kanne  doo, 
Ye  thar  bot  commande  hus  thertoo, 

And  haffe  your  servandes  beyn," 


SIR  AMADAS*  0,65 

Thei  toke  the  knyght  be  the  bonde, 
And  to  the  castell  con  thei  gange, 

And  tolde  the  kyng  the  case. 
The  kyng  mayd  hym  noble  chere, 
And  seyd,  "  Welcum,  my  frynd  so  dere, 

And  thonkyd  God  of  his  grace.  £2Q 

For  syche  a  storme  as  ye  wer  yn, 
That  euer  ye  meyght  to  lond  wyn 

A  full  feyr  happe  hit  wasse. 
Yette  harde  Y-neuer  no  mon  speyke, 
That  so  mykyll  of  my  luffe  myght  geyt, 

J  n'ot  what  hit  wasse." 

The  kyng  dyd  a  cry  make, 
For  Sir  Amadas  sake, 

In  the  myddes  of  that  cete. 
Knyght,  sqwyar,  yomon,  and  knafe,  530 

All  that  wold  any  meyster  have, 

Ylke  mon  in  his  degre, 
That  wyll  cum  to  Sir  Amadas, 
That  hase  lost  is  men  in  this  case 

In  stormes  of  the  see, 
Thei  schall  have  wage  to  soo  mykyll  more 
Than  any  lord  that  euer  thei  with  wore, 

That  with  hym  wyll  be. 


%G6  sir  amadas. 

Gentyllmen  that  hard  this  cry, 

Theder  con  thei  fast  hy,  540 

YIke  mon  in  his  degr£ ; 
And  when  thei  had  this  cryed, 
Ther  was  no  lord  ther  besyde 

Had  halfe  so  mony  as  hee. 
Then  wan  he  greyt  renown, 
Frythe,  fyld,  towre,  and  towne, 

Castyll,  and  nobell  cete  ; 
An  hondorthe  stedes  he  wan  and  moo, 
Halfe  to  his  feylow  kept  he  of  tho, 

The  toder  away  gaffe  hee.  550 

To  the  kynges  palys  then  con  thei  fare, 
Theder  thei  went  and  wold  not  spare, 

All  so  fast  as  thei  myght  dryfe. 
The  kyng  made  hym  full  nobell  chere, 
And  seyd,  "  Welcum  my  frynde  so  dere." 

To  the  chamber  yede  thei  swyght. 
He  sent  after  his  doghter  gent ; 
In  hast  thei  wesche  and  to  meyt  went, 

Ylke  mon  glad  and  blythe. 
Then  mey  ye  wytte,  withowtyn  wene,  560 

When  eyder  of  them  had  oder  sene 

Ther  luffe  began  to  kyghthe. 


SIR  AMADAS.  267 

The  kyng  tok  Sir  Amadas, 

And  ladde  hym  forthe  into  is  plase, 

And  thus  to  hym  con  sey : 
"  Sir  knyght,  he  seyd,  withowtyn  lesse, 

Y  have  a  doghtter,  myn  eyre  sche  is  ; 
In  halle  scho  eytte  to  dey; 

And,  yffe  thou  be  a  mon  to  wedde  a  wyfe, 

Y  voche  hyr  save,  so  mot  Y  tryfe,  570 
On  the,  that  fayr  may ; 

Halfe  my  kyngdam  whylyst  Y  lyffe, 
Wyt  my  doghtter  Y  wyll  th&  gyffe, 
And  be  eyr  after  my  day." 

"  Gramarcy,"  seyd  Sir  Amadas, 
And  thonkyd  the  kyng  of  that  grace, 

Of  his  gyfftes  gudde. 
Sone  after,  as  Y  yow  sey, 
To  the  kyrke  yode  thei, 

To  wedde  that  frely  fode.  580 

Ther  was  gold  gyffon  in  that  stonde, 
And  plenty  of  syluer,  mony  a  ponde, 

Be  the  way  as  thei  yode : 
And  after  in  hall  thei  satte  all, 
The  lordes  and  the  lades  small 

That  comon  wer  of  gentyll  blode. 


268  SIR  AMADAS. 

Thus  come  his  weyle  after  his  wo  : 
God  gyffe  hus  grace  that  owres  mey  sol 

A  greyte  fest  garde  he  make  : 
The  revell  last  a  full  synyght,  590 

With  meyttes  and  drynkes  wyll  dyght, 

And  ylke  day  schaftes  schake. 
Thre  yer  thei  dwellyd  togeyder  than 
A  feyr  son  on  hur  he  wan, 

Of  no  kynnes  wo  thei  watte. — 
Now  of  anoder  thyng  wylle  we  speyke  : 
Apon  a  day,  before  the  meyte, 

His  feylo  cum  to  the  yatte. 

He  come  in  als  gey  geyre, 

Ryght  as  he  an  angell  weyre,  600 

And  all  that  was  in  whytte. 
To  the  porter  he  seyd  anon, 
"  To  thi  lorde,  sir,  that  thou  gwon, 

And  telle  hym  bod-word  tyte  : 
Yf  he  aske  owght  of  me, 
Whens  Y  am  or  who  Y  be, 

Sey  Y  am  in  whyte  ; 
And  yf  thou  speyke  no  more  of  me, 
Y  tro  thi  lorde  have  me  see  : 

Y  hope  he  wyll  terry  bot  lyte."  610 


SIR  AMADAS.  269 

The  porter  wold  no  longer  dwell ; 
Befor  his  lord  on  knes  he  fell, 

And  seyd,  "  Sir,"  to  hym  full  sone  : 
"  Sir,  at  the  yate  ther  is  a  knyght, 
The  feyryst  that  euer  Y  sey  in  syght, 

Markyd  vnder  mone  ; 
Sir,  on  a  mylke  whyte  stede, 
The  same  color  his  is  wede  ; 

That  he  hase  a  bone, 
Y  tro  full  wele  ye  have  hym  sene,  620 

Hit  semes  as  ye  had  feylosse  bene  ; 

Now  mey  ye  ken  hym  sone." 

"  His  he  theyr,  my  trv  fere  ? 
His  comyng  is  to  me  full  dere 

So  oght  it  wyll  to  bee." 
He  commandyd  his  men,  Y  vnderstonde, 
For  to  serve  hym  at  fote  and  honde, — 

"  Evon  as  ye  wolde  do  mee." 
Sir  Amadas  ageyn  hym  con  go, 
And  so  dyd  his  lady  also,  630 

That  semely  was  to  see. 
Sche  dyd  as  sche  oght  to  do, 
That  her  lord  lovyd  to  worchyp  so  : 

Blessed  mot  suche  wemen  bee ! 


270  SIR  AMADAS. 

Who  myght  his  hors  to  stabell  have, 
Knyght,  sqwyar,  yomon,  or  knave, 

Non  with  hym  he  broght. 
Gentylmen  wold  have  taken  his  stede, 
Knyghttes  wold  hym  to  the  chamber  lede, 

Bot  nay,  that  wolde  he  noght.  640 

Cartenly,  as  Y  yow  tell, 
To  eytte  ne  drynke  he  wolde  not  dwell, 

Be  Jesu  that  me  dere  boght ! 
"  Bot  skyfte  me  evon,  he  con  say, 
Gyffe  me  my  parte,  Y  wyll  awey, 

Yf  Y  had  servyd  hit  oght." 

Sir  Amadas  seyd,  "  Benedecite ! 
Sir,  leyt  such  wordes  bee ; 

Thei  greve  my  hart  full  sore. 
We  schuld  not  this  fortnyght  650 

Owre  londes  deyle  and  dyght 

Thei  lyg  so  far  here  and  thore. 
Ye  schail  dwell  with  yor  broder  here, 
And  soiorne  with  yor  trew  fere, 

All  his  yores  thoflf  hit  wer  more  ; 
Oderwyse  skyft  wyll  not  wee, 
Bot  at  yor  wyll  schail  hit  bee : 

God  forbede  ye  spare  ! " 


SIR  AMADAS.  0,71 

"  Broke  wyll  thi  londes  wyde, 

Thei  lyg  so  far  on  ylke  a  syde,  660 

Broke  hem  wyll  ylkon  ; 
Thi  woddes,  thi  waters,  thi  wylde  dere, 
Thi  frutes,  thi  forestes,  far  an  nere, 

And  all  thi  welthes,  with  rych  ston, 
Thi  sylver  and  thi  gold  so  reyd, 
Thei  mey  stonde  me  in  no  steyd  5 

Kepe  all  wele  in  won  : 
Bot  certainly,  withowtyn  stryfe, 
Halfe  thi  chylde  and  halfe  thi  wyfe 

With  me  then  schall  thei  gwon."  670 

a  Alas,  seyd  Sir  Amadas  then, 
That  euer  Y  this  lady  wan, 

Or  any  oder  gud ! 
Do  with  meselfe  what  ye  wyll, 
Wheder  ye  wyll  me  save  or  spyll, 

For  hym  that  dyed  on  the  rode  ! 
Take  all  the  gud  that  Y  have 
So  that  thou  wylt  my  lade  save  !" 

The  knyght  wele  vnderstode  : 
"  Sir,  he  seyd,  be  sent  Albon,  680 

Oder  gud  wyll  Y  non, . 

Bot  the  chylde  then  parte  thou  bode. 


272  SIR  AMADAS. 

"  Thenke  what  forward  that  thou  made, 
When  thou  full  greyt  myster  hade ; 

Wele  thou  hettest  me  thare  !" 
Sir  Amadas  seyd,  "  Yett  wyll  Y  so. 
Bot  suche  a  feyre  lade  to  slo, 

Gret  ruthe  me  thenke  hit  ware." 
The  wordes  that  thei  spake  than, 
Full  wele  the  lade  dyd  vnderstande,  690 

And  grevyd  her  neuer  the  mare  : 
"  Syr,  kythe  that  ye  ar  a  knyght, 
And  ye  schall  hold  that  ye  have  hyght ; 

Goddes  forbot  ye  spare  ! 

"  Sir,  this  semys  a  full  trwe  knyght, 
Ye  schall  holde  that  ye  have  hyght 

Only  vnto  hym. 
The  forward  that  ye  made  thare, 
God  forbede  that  ye  schuld  spare  ! 

The  conande  was  gud  and  fynne.  700 

Yf  G  od  wyll  that  hit  be  soo, 
Take  and  parte  hus  bothe  in  too  ; 

J  am  yores  and  ye  ar  myn. 
God  forbede  that  ye  lette  for  my  sake, 
That  Y  schuld  yow  a  fals  mon  make, 

Yowre  worschyppe  for  to  tyne ! " 


« 


a 


SIR  AMADAS.  273 

Styll  scho  stode,  withowttyn  lette ; 
Scho  changyd  no  chere  nor  grette ; 

Lyston  and  ye  mey  here ! 
Scho  seyd,  "  Bryng  my  yong  son  me  beforne, 
That  was  of  my  body  borne,  711 

And  ley  my  hart  full  nere." 
The  knyght  seyd  to  his  feloo  tho  : 

Wheder  lovyst  thou  better  of  the  too  ?" 

He  seyd  "  My  wyfe  so  dere." 

Sython  thou  lovyst  her  the  more, 
Thou  schalt  se  her  partyd  or 

Her  whytes  sydes  sere." 

Whan  Sir  Amadas  that  con  see 

That  hit  myght  no  better  bee,  720 

For  wo  he  went  nere  wode. 
All  that  wer  in  that  hall 
In  deyd  swonyng  con  thei  fall, 

Those  that  by  her  stode  : 
Ther  scho  schuld  be  slen  the  tabell  was  leyd  5 
Scho  kyssyd  her  lorde  with  mony  a  breyd, 

Mecly  ther  to  scho  yode. 
Scho  leyd  herselfe  don  mekely  ynowe  ; 
Her  kerchofes  ouer  her  ene  scho  drowe, 

That  lade  mylde  of  mode.  730 

VOL.  III.  s 


$74  SIR  AMADAS. 

All  that  wer  aboute  hyr  ryght 
Wer  full  sory  of  that  syght, 

And  fast  to  her  con  pres. 
Sir  Amadas  seyd,  "  Jesu  in  trinite, 
At  thi  wyll  all  schall  bee ; 

So  hope  Y,  lord,  hit  his." 
Vp  he  lyft  his  sword  on  hyght, 
To  smytte  that  lade  had  he  tyght. 

The  toder  knyght  seyd  :  "  Seys ! 
Take  vp  thi  lade  and  thi  chylde,  740 

And  loke  Sir  Amadas  that  thou  be  mylde, 

And  be  now  in  pes. 

"  J  wyte  the  noght  thoffe  thou  wer  wo, 
When  thou  thi  fayr  lady  schuld  slo  j 

Thi  worchyppe  is  wele  safe. 
Yette  was  Y  ten  so  glad 
When  that  thou  gaffe  all  that  thou  had, 

My  bwones  for  to  grave  ; 
Ther  Y  lay  to  howndes  meyt, 
Thou  gavyst  forty  ponde  in  greyt :  750 

Loke  ageyn  that  thou  hit  have. 
Then  preyd  Y  God  couer  hym  of  care, 
That  wolde  make  hymselfe  so  bare, 

My  body  for  to  grave. 


SIR  AMADAS.  %]$ 

"  Fare  now  wele,  my  frende  so  dere, 
My  dwellyng  his  no  lenger  here 

For  sothe  as  Y  the  tell. 
Luffe  wele  thi  chylde  and  thi  wyfe, 
That  thus  wolde,  withowton  stryfe, 

Thi  forwarde  halde  and  fullfyll."  760 

He  glod  away  as  dew  in  son  ; 
Ther  west  no  mon  wher  he  become : 

Sir  Amadas  dwellyd  theyr  styll ; 
And  thonkyd  God  with  all  his  myght, 
And  his  moder  Mare  bryght ; 
Therto  he  hade  grete  skyll. 

Ther  Sir  Amadas  and  is  wyfe, 

With  ioy  and  blys  thei  lade  their  Iyf<y, 

To  ther  endyng  day. 
Full  few  lades  ar  of  tho,  77Q 

That  wolde  serve  ther  lorde  so, 

Bot  sum  wolde  sey  nay. 
Who  so  loffes  God  with  all  his  myght, 
And  his  moder  that  virgyn  bryght, 

Y  dare  hardly  wele  sey, 
ThofFe  thei  haue  not  als  tyte  her  wyll, 
Yette  shall  they  cum  sumtyme  thertyll 

And  passe  full  wele  away. 

amen 


THE 


HtJNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARK 


THE 


HUNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE. 


FYTTE  I. 


A  letyll  tale  Y  wyll  yow  tell, 
Y  troye  hit  wyll  lyke  yow  well, 

That  ye  schall  have  gud  game ; 
Bot  wer  it  was  Y  dar  not  say, 
For  appyny  anoder  day, 

Hit  myght  turne  me  to  blame. 

Now  take  gud  hede  euerychon, 
How  a  yomoti  com  rydyng  alon, 

Ha  full  fayr  way  he  fond  : 
He  loked  besyde  hym  lyght  glyd&nd,  10 

He  fond  a  hare  full  fayr  syttand, 

Apon  a  falow  lond. 


280  THE  HUNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE. 

He  markyd  wyll  wher  che  satt  tho ; 

He  prikyd  to  the  town  as  fast  as  he  myght  go, 

The  way  then  con  he  swe. 
The  fyrst  mon  that  he  mett  withall 
Was  a  husbond  hyght  Honkyn  of  the  Hall, 

A  gud  mon  and  a  trowe. 

The  yomon  sayes  with  laghhyng  chere, 

"  Dwelles  ther  ony  gentyllmon  here,  20 

Gud  mon,  as  God  th£  save  ? 
Yonder  Y  have  fond  a  hare  syttyng : 
Yf  ye  have  ony  grehowndes  horn  with  yow  to  bryng. 

A  cours  ther  schall  ye  have." 

"  What  nedys  that  ?  sayd  Honkyn  tho, 
Ychon  of  hus  base  a  dogge  or  too  ; 

For  grehowndes  have  thou  no  care. 
Jac  of  Bonam  hase  a  dogge  or  too  ; 
So  have  we  all  as  thou  sehalt  se  tho, 

Eno  to  beytt  a  hare.  SO 

u  Jac  of  the  Wall,  and  Dave  of  the  Dale, 
Thei  have  dogges  wyll  worch  hur  bale  ; 

Ther  is  non  sych  in  all  this  town  : 
Jac  Hals  hase  a  dogge  also, 
Dred  not  mon,  sche  schall  not  goo  : 

Thou  sehalt  se  her  drawon  down.. 


THE  HUNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE.    281 

n  Jac  of  the  Bregge  and  Wylle  of  the  Gappe, 
Thei  have  dogges  of  thei  olde  schappe, 

That  heyre  and  beyre  wyll  kyll. 
Jac  Wade  hase  a  dogge  [wyll]  hit  pull,  40 

He  hymselue  wyll  take  a  bull> 

And  holde  hym  ston-styll. 

"  Hob  Andrew  Y  thynke  on  now  ; 
He  has  a  dogge  wyll  take  a  sow, 

And  bryng  hur  to  the  cowtte  : 
Ther  is  no  thyng  he  wyll  forsake, 
Ye  schall  se  hym  this  hare  take 

And  gnaw  ato  hur  throwtte. 

"  Parkyn  the  potter  hase  iij  that  wyll  not  fayll, 
Short  schonkes  and  neuer  a  tayll  ;  50 

No  kalfe  so  greyt,  as  Y  wene. 
So  has  Dykon  and  Jac  Gryme, 
So  has  yonge  Ray  nail  and  Sym, 

And  all  the  schall  horn  sene."— 

"  Gud  syr,  seyd  the  yomon  tho, 
To  thi  neyghburs  that  thou  wylt  go ; 

Thou  knowes  horn  wele  all ; 
And  byd  hom  brynke  hor  dogges  ichon, 
And  leyfe  neuer  won  at  horn, 

Noder  greytt  nor  small."  60 


282    THE  HUNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE. 

The  husbond  sayd,  "  Care  no  thynge, 
-All  our  dogges  we  schall  forthe  bryng, 

This  Y  wyll  vndertake." 
The  yomon  sayd  :  "  Y  assent." 
To  the  town  the  husbond  wentt, 

As  fast  as  he  myght  schake. 

Toward  his  neyghburs  he  wold  no  blyn ; 
In  euery  howse  he  cald  in, 

As  lowde  as  he  myght  syng  ; 
He  seyd,  "  Neyghburs,  for  God,  avow,  70 

Loke  yowr  dogges  have  meyt  enow ; 

On  horn  spare  no  thyng." 

And  thus  he  went  fro  streyt  to  streyt, 

To  warne  his  neyburs  on  the  grene  to  mete, — 

"  That  we  may  go  forthe  in  feyr." 
Then  euery  mon  broght  forth  his  dogge, 
Apon  the  grene  fast  con  thei  logge, 

With  cheynes  that  wold  not  teyr. 

Sum  mon  had  too,  sum  mon  had  iij, 

Sum  mon  had  iiij,  hit  was  told  me,  80 

Of  greyt  dogges  and  stronge ; 
Sum  of  horn  had  no  taylys, 
Bot  browd  colers  full  of  neylis, 

Mor  then  a  hondful  long. 


THE  HUNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE.  283 

Sum  wer  trussed  with  cordys  fast, 

And  sum  with  haltars  that  wold  not  brast, 

Forsothe  as  Y  yow  say. 
Ther  wer  gedyrt  on  the  grene, 
A  hvndyrt  dogges  thei  wer  bedene, 

And  mo,  withouttyn  nay.  90 

Then  euery  man  had  a  mall, 
Syche  as  thei  betyn  clottys  withall, 

Hynkyng  apon  their  backe. 
Thei  buskyd  horn  blythe  to  beytt  that  hare, 
Into  the  feld  thei  conon  fare ; 

Thei  wente  a  nobull  schakke. 

The  yomon  houyd  apon  the  hyll ; 
He  saw  the  husbonde's  cum  full  wele, 

When  thei  wer  redy  bown. 
He  swer  be  God  and  be  Sent  Jon,  10O 

Seche  a  muster  saw  he  neuer  non, 

Comyng  owt  of  won  town. 

Anon  as  they  the  yomon  seyn, 
All  thei  cryed  apon  hym, 

"  Wher  is  this  hare  ?  lett  hur  owt !" 
"  Syrres,  he  seyd,  be  your  leyve, 
Yonder  syttes  [he]  in  a  greyve  : 

Go  thider  and  stondes  abowtte. 


284         THE  HUNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE, 

"  When  that  ye  bin  stabult  up, 

Y  wylle  ryde  and  putt  her  vp,  110 

That  sche  mey  renne  this  ones  ; 
And  when  Y  haue  this  hare  start, 
Take  gud  hede  thederwart, 

And  lett  slyppe  all  at  ones." 

H  And  the  hare  schappe  away  thei  say, 
Sche  beyres  her  wele,  be  this  day." 

Thei  swere  all  be  cokkes  bownes. 
Here  is  a  fytte  ;  have  hit  in  mynde, 
Thette  the  best  bowrd  is  behynde, 

Y  tell  yow  for  the  nones.  120 


FYTTE  II. 


When  thei  wer  all  in  ther  aray, 
From  all  the  dogges  che  went  away, 

Withowttyn  ony  torne. 
The  dogges  wer  nothyng  to  blame  ; 
Thei  knew  not  wele  of  that  game, 

Thei  had  seyn  non  full  yorne. 


THE  HUNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE.  285 

Now,  takes  gud  hede,  Y  wyll  yow  tell 
Of  this  cause  how  hit  befell : 

Y  prei  yow  lystonnes  now. 

Y  wyll  that  ye  mer&  make,  130 

Sumdell  for  myn  owne  sake  ; 

Y  have  no  noder  prow. 

The  yomon  rode  and  cryed  :  "  So  hoo  !" 
And  putte  the  hare  vp  with  his  boo, 

And  all  thei  gaffe  a  schowt. 
Thei  cryed,  "  Hy,  hy !"  all  at  ones 
"  Kyll !  kyll !  for  kockes  bownes ! 

Bewar  lest  sche  schape  owte." 

Sche  ran  abowte  ther  ful  long  ; 

Thei  leyd  at  her  with  mallus  strong,  140 

As  fast  as  thei  myght  lacke. 
The  hare  thoght  che  wold  owt  wyn, 
And  hit  Jac  Wade  apon  the  schyn, 

That  he  fell  apon  the  backe. 

"  Owt !  owt !  quoth  Jac,  and  alas ! 
That  euer  this  batell  begonon  was  ! 

This  is  a  sor&  note." 
Jac  Wade  was  neuer  so  ferd, 
As  when  the  hare  trade  on  his  berd, 

Lest  sche  wold  have  pult  owt  his  throwt.    150 


286  THE  HTJNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE. 

By  hym  sche  schapput  and  went  hur  wey, 
And  feyr  toke  vp  a  falow  ley  : 

The  hey  re  say  thei  no  mowre. 
Thus  the  heyre  laft  horn  behynde  ; 
The  dogges  of  her  thei  had  no  mynde, 

Thei  saw  neuer  no  befowra. 

Thei  toke  no  hede  thederwart, 
Bot  euery  dogge  on  oder  start ; 

Men  myght  have  hard  horn  grenn  a  myle. 
Ther  thei  madyn  a  fowle  lowtte, 
And  begonnon  a  sor£  nowtte  ;  160 

Thei  wer  full  besy  that  wyle. 

Men  myght  se  the  dogges  ren, 
Sum  the  guttes  out-drayn, 

Sum  on  ther  backes  thei  lay, 
Sum  wer  pynchyd  by  the  hanche, 
And  sum  pulled  owt  the  paiiche, 

And  thus  thei  scheyd  hur  whay. 

Jac  Wade  was  war  his  dogge  was  dwon, 

And  he  hit  Jac  Grym  dog  on  the  crown,         I/O 

That  bothe  his  een  start  owt. 
Jac  Gryme  swere  then  full  sone, 
He  swere  be  God  that  syttes  in  trone, 

And  radly  raght  hym  a  clowte. 


THE  HUNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE.    287 

Perkyn  cum  leypyng  in  with  a  mall ; 
He  seyd,  "  Thou  schalt  not  kyll  hus  all : 

Y  wyll  it  the  qwytte." 
Ther  start  in  Sander  Sydebreche, 
And  swere,  be  his  fader  sowle,  he  schulde  abyche, 

That  he  schulde  not  chese.  ISO 

Thus  sone  won  hyt  hym  on  the  syde, 
That  euer  after  he  stode  full  wyde, 

III.  fote  betwene  the  knees, 
He  smote  down  his  schulder-blade, 
And  that  was  long  on  Jac  Wade  ; 

The  batell  he  began. 

Sym,  that  was  balyd  lyke  a  kow, 

He  seyd  :  "  Syrres,  Y  arest  yow  now." 

The  tyde  a  farly  grace  ! 
Won  hit  hym  on  the  bale  with  a  mall  J  90 

Hym  thoght  his  guttes  fallen  owt  withall, 

And  he  beschynde  that  place. 

Jac  of  Bonam  he  was  constabull, 

He  seyd,  "  Yow  to  arese  Y  am  full  abull, 

All  that  ben  olde  or  yong." 
Anon  won  brake  his  necke  well  ny, 
That  euer  after  he  lokud  awry, 

And  hongyd  owt  the  tonge. 


288    THE  HLNTTYNG  OF  THE  HAKE. 

Hobb  Andrw  he  was  thridborro  ; 

He  bad  horn,  "  Pesse !  God  gyff  hom  sorro !  200 

For  Y  mey  arrest  yow  best." 
Thus  sone  won  hit  hym  on  the  eyr, 
That  euer  after  he  brydylt  full  feyr  ; 

His  chyn  ley  on  his  brest. 

Gybon  Sowter  he  layd  on  fast, 
Tyll  his  breche-belt  all  to-brast, 

As  fast  as  he  myght  lake. 
Thus  sone  won  hit  hym  on  the  crope, 
That  neuer  after  he  myght  not  stoppe, 

Bot  his  arse  lette  a  cracke.  210 

Perkyn  Clotter  cryed  :  "  Alas  ! 
Ye  schalle  abye  or  Y  passe  ; 

With  yow  wylle  Y  not  talke." 
Thus  sone  won  hit  hym  on  the  backe. 
That  euer  after  his  arse  seyd  qwacke, 

When  he  schulld  ryse  to  vvalke. 

Thus  sore  ychon  leyd  on  oder ; 
Thei  spared  noder  fader  nor  broder, 

Ryght  as  thei  had  byn  madde. 
A  mon  myght  have  hart  the  malles  dontte,      220 
And  euermore  the  sely  men  fast  dyd  grontte, 

The  malles  thei  lyght  so  sadde. 


THE  HUNTTYNG  OF  THE  HARE.  289 

Thus  fagh  thei  to  thei  were  was  : 
The  dogges  in  anoder  plasse, 

A  lytyll  ther  besyde. 
Whyle  thei  wer  besy  in  this  warke, 
The  yomon  rodde  awaywarde, 

And  wold  no  lenger  abyde. 

Then  euery  towne  a  myle  abowt, 

Hard  the  malles  and  gedyrt  owt,  230 

To  wytte  what  hit  myght  bee. 
Sum  seyd  it  was  a  beyr-beytyng, 
Sum  seyd  it  was  a  dogg  feghttyng, — 

"  Goo  we  ner  and  see." 

Thei  went  theder  as  fast  as  thei  myght  ren, 
And  feyr  thei  partud  them  atwen, 

And  then  styndyd  all  the  stryfe. 
Sum  thei  fond  leyd  on  the  grownd  ; 
All  thei  wer  wel  ny  swonand, 

Vnethe  thei  had' ther  lyfe.  240 

Thei  went  to  the  towne  to  fach  ther  wyvys, 
To  gyffe  horn  drynke  to  safe  the  lyvys  ; 

Therto  thei  wer  full  bwon  ; 
Theder  come  bothe  prestys  and  clarkys 
And  broghtton  with  horn  hor  cartys, 

And  caryd  the  seke  men  to  the  town. 
vol.  in.  t 


290    THE  HUNTTYNG  OP  THE  HARE. 

Pore  husbondes  that  had  no  marowes, 
Ther  wyfes  broghtton  hom  whelebarows, 

For  thei  had  no  waynes. 
Then  euery  wyfe  broghtte  hom  her  spows,      230 
And  leyd  hym  in  his  owne  hows, 

And  keueryd  hom  vp  ayeyn. 

A  moneth  after  a  mon  myghtte  hom  affond, 
Lyand  styll  on  the  grownd, 

Thei  myght  noder  ryde  ne  goo. 
Euer  after  the  dogges  wer  so  starke, 
Thei  stode  aschore  when  thei  schuld  barke  ; 

Her  feytt  thei  drew  hom  soo. 

Ofte  Y  have  hard  hit  twold, 

Thei  myghtt  not  passe  the  dure  threscwold,    Q.6Q 

Nor  lope  ouer  the  hache-styd* 
Thus  the  hare  is  gwon  her  gate, 
Hur  to  fynde  hit  is  to  late, 

Y  putte  yow  owt  of  drede. 

The  cowrse  Y  wold  that  ye  had  sene  ; 
In  the  nownes  ye  had  me  the  coppe  gene,' 

For  therof  had  Y  nede. 
Here  endis  the  hare  beytyng : 
God  gyff  us  all  gud  endyng, 

And  hevon  tyll  owre  mede  ! 

EXPLICIT. 


NOTES. 


VOLUME  I* 


KYNG  ALISAUNDER. 

V.  17,  For  Caton  seith,  thes  gode  techere 

u  Other  monis  lif  is  owre  schewere."] 

Vita  est  nobis  aliena  magistra. — Distich.  Catonis. 

73,  Neptanamous.~\  In  the  Latin  this  celebrated 
necromancer  is  denominated  Nectanabus  or  Anec- 
tanabus ;  in  the  Italian  Anatanabo.  Camoens  al- 
ludes to  this  fabulous  parentage  of  Alexander  the 
Great  in  the  following  lines,  which  he  first  intro- 
duced into  the  Lusiad,  but  subsequently  rejected. 
On  the  occasion  of  celebrating  King  John  of  Por- 
tugal, he  enumerates  the  most  celebrated  bastards 
of  antiquity,  and  among  them, 

"  se  he  certo  o  que  a  fama  ja  escreveo, 

Se  muitos  a  Philippo  nomearam 
Por  pai  do  Macedonico  mancebo, 
Outros  lhe  dao  o  magno  Nectanebo." 

The  history  of  Nectanabus,  with  his  enchantments, 
and  his  amour  with  Queen  Olyrapia,  was  introduced 


292  NOTES. 

by  Gower  into  the  sixth  book  of  his  Confessio 
Amantis  ;  and  the  comparison  of  the  romance  of  the 
thirteenth  century  with  the  more  polished  produc- 
tion of  the  friend  and  contemporary  of  Chaucer, 
affords  considerable  interest,  and  is  by  no  means  to 
the  disadvantage  of  the  older  minstrel.  In  the  re- 
print of  Gower,  in  Mr  Chalmers's  late  edition  of 
the  English  poets,  the  tale  occurs  at  p.  197  of 
Vol.  II. 

87,  Of  wax  he  made  him  popetis.~\  The  method 
of  conducting  an  enchantment  by  means  of  figures 
in  wax,  made  to  resemble  the  person  intended  to  be 
the  object  of  the  operation,  is  very  ancient,  and 
was  universally  prevalent,  being  mentioned  by 
Theocritus,  Virgil,  and  Horace,  and  frequently  the 
subject  of  the  tales  of  Arabian  as  well  as  European 
magic.  In  the  Gesta  Romanorum,  the  illicit  con- 
nection between  a  knight's  lady  and  a  clerk  skilled 
in  negromancy,  is  discovered  by  another  magician 
to  the  husband,  by  means  of  a  polished  mirror  and 
a  waxen  image.  When  the  Duchess,  in  Middleton's 
Witch,  is  desirous  of  destroying  Almachildes,  Hecate 
inquires, — 

What  death  is't  you  desire  for  Almachildes  ? 

Duck.  A  sodaine  and  a  subtle. 

Hec.  Then  I  have  fitted  you. 
JJere  lye  the  guifts  of  both  ;  sodaine  and  subtle : 
His  picture  made  in  wax,  and  gently  molten 
By  a  blew  fire,  kindled  with  dead  mens'  eyes, 
Will  waste  him  by  degrees. 

Duch.  In  what  time  pree-thee  ? 

Hec.  Perhaps  in  a  month's  progresse. 

The  same  practice  is  alluded  to  in  several  old  plays, 
such  as  Beaumont  and  Fletcher's  Custom  of  the 
Country,  &c.  &c.  In  the  sixteenth  century  many 
old  women  suffered  for  being  supposed  to  have  at- 
tempted the  lives  of  persons  by  burning  their  ima- 


NOTES.  £93 

ges.  "  King  James  I.  in  his  (  Daemonologie,' 
speaks  of  this  practice  as  very  common  ;  the  effi- 
cacy of  which  he  peremptorily  ascribes  to  the 
power  of  the  devil.  His  majesty's  arguments,  in- 
tended to  prove  how  the  magician's  image  operated 
on  the  person  represented,  are  drawn  from  the 
depths  of  moral,  theological,  and  metaphysical 
knowledge."  Warton's  Dissertation  of  the  Gesta 
Romanoruni)  p.'~  xxxvii. — The  operations  of  Nec- 
tanabus,  detailed  in  the  text,  were,  however,  on  a 
far  grander  scale,  and  are  not  equalled,  in  point  of 
importance,  by  any  others  reported  to  have  been 
performed  by  any  necromancer,  if  we  except  some 
recorded  in  the  volumes  treasured  up  in  Don  Quix- 
ote's library.  See  the  following  note,  for  which 
the  reader  is  indebted  to  the  learned  author  of  the 
44  Illustrations  of  Shakspeare,"  as  well  as  for  seve- 
ral others  in  the  sequel. 

104,  Anon  he  dude  cast  his  charm^]  In  a  Latin. 
MS.  romance  of  Alexander*,  many  parts  of  which 
bear  a  closer  resemblance  to  the  English  romance 
than  the  Latin  printed  copy,  this  charm  is  thus  cu- 
riously described  : — The  king  retires  to  the  secret 
recesses  of  his  palace,  where  he  causes  some  of  the 
purest  water  that  can  be  obtained  to  be  poured  into 
a  bason,  nearly  to  the  brim.  He  then  makes  wax- 
en images  of  his  enemies,  together  with  ships  of  the 
like  material ;  and  placing  the  men  in  the  ships, 
sets  them  afloat  in  the  bason.  After  this  he  takes 
a  rod  of  ebony,  and,  with  many  incantations,  in- 
voking all  the  celestial  and  infernal  gods  to  assist 
him,  with  a  gentle  effort  of  the  rod  he  sinks  some 
of  the  ships,  by  which  means  it  happens  that  such 
of  his  enemies  as  are  then  on  the  seas  to  invade  his 
dominions,  are  in  like  manner  precipitated  to  the 

*  Penes  F.  Douce,  Esq. 


494  NOTES. 

bottom  of  the  deep.  This  is  stated  to  have  been 
his  usual  method,  which,  however,  on  this  occa- 
sion, does  not  succeed. — D. 

180,    A  speruer  that  was  honeste 
So  was  at  the  ladies  feste.~\ 

It  was  a  mark  of  nobility  to  bear  a  hawk  on  the 
fist,  and  was  indeed  only  permitted  to  persons 
of  rank.  Ladies  even  carried  them  to  church, 
and  representations  of  them  are  frequently  to  be 
found  on  antique  monuments.  See  Way's  Fabliaux^ 
I.  263,  and  Wartorts  Hist.  Eng.  Poetry,  I.  166. 

1 89,  Al  thes  toun  y-honged  was.']  It  was  a  mark 
of  great  distinction  in  the  feudal  ages,  at  the  en- 
trance of  a  person  of  great  rank  into  a  town,  to 
hang  the  walls  of  the  houses  with  tapestry.  So  in 
Chaucer's  Knights,  Tale  V.  2567  :— 

"  Up  gon  the  trompes  and  the  melodie, 
And  to  the  listes  rit  the  compagnie 
By  ordinance,  thurghout  the  cite  large, 
Hanged  with  cloth  of  gold  and  not  with  sarge." 

When  Elizabeth,  Queen  of  Henry  VII.,  entered 
the  city  of  London  in  1481,  a  Al  the  streets  ther 
whiche  she  shuldc  passe  by  wer  clenly  dressed  and 
besene  with  cloth  of  tappestrye  and  arras,  and 
some  streetes,  as  Chepe,  hanged  with  riche  clothes 
of  golde,  velvettes,  and  silkes."  Leland's  Works , 
cd.  1770,  IV.  220,  &c.     See  Chaucer,  1.  2570. 

235 — 241,  Gamen  is  good,  &c]  These  six  lines 
arc  very  obscure,  but  the  following  interpretation 
which  they  have  received  from  Mr  Douce,  seems  to 
be  perfectly  satisfactory  :  u  Sport  is  good  while  it 
lasteth,  but  it  passes  away  as  the  blasts  of  the 
winds.  The  rich  man  gives  the  least,  [or  perhaps, 
the  greatest  (mcst,  most)  man  gives  least  (lest)  to 
the  wretched  (wrcche]  ;  his  love  therein  he  shows  : 
For  when  it  is  best  that  it  be  concealed  or  withheld 


XOTES.  296 

(t.  e.  his  love  or  charity)  ithasteth.  I  wonder  that 
men  be  not  alarmed  (at  such  doings),  and  that  some 
are  not  corrected  (or  warned)  by  others."  The 
reading  of  the  Bodleian  MS.  is  still  more  obscure. 
See  Various  Readings. 

347,  Here  thought  a  dragon  adoun  lightS]— 
Gower  gives  a  very  curious  description  of  the  gal- 
lantry of  the  dragon,  &c.  ;  which,  as  Warton  ob- 
serves, he  seems  to  have  taken  from  the  following 
passage  in  Vincent  de  Beauvais :  u  Nectanabus  se 
transformat  in  ilium  draconis  seductiorem  tractum, 
tricliniumque  penetrat  reptabundus,  specie  specta- 
bilis,  turn  majestate  totius  corporis,  turn  etiam  sibi- 
lorum  acumine  adeo  terribilis,  ut  parietes  etiam  ac 
fundamenta  domus  quati  viderentur,"  &c.  Hist, 
SpecuL  fol.  41-6. 

437,  Anyght  he  schal  beo  'with  the.~\  In  the  La- 
tin MS.,  Nectanabus  M  postquam  se  satiasset  com- 
plexibus,  manu  sua  alvum  reginae  consignavit." — 
D. 

667,  This  ri>is  nought  romance  of  fJcof: 
A  storie  is  made  of  maistres  wise  ; 
Of  this  world  thei  bar  the  prise .] 

It  is  not  improbable,  as  Mr  Douce  noticed,  that 
the  poet  is  here  himself  scoffing  at  the  popular  ro- 
mance of  the  Seven  Wise  Masters.  Though,  in  the 
657th  line,  a  dozen  masters  are  mentioned,  as  be- 
ing appointed  to  teach  Alexander,  it  is  evidently  a 
mistake  :  for,  in  the  ensuing  lines,  only  seven  are 
enumerated,  which  probably  brought  the  Historia 
Septem  Sapient ium  to  the  recollection  of  the  min- 
strel, and  made  him  anxious  to  acquaint  the  reader, 
that  his  romance  was  a  real  gest  or  history,  and  not 
a  fabulous  romance,  like  the  one  he  alludes  to. 

678,  And  of  reveryng.']  That  is,  hawking  by 
the  river  side ;  flying  the  hawks  at  herons,  and  other 
river-fowl.     So  in  Chaucer's  Franklein's  Tale  : 


2Q6  NOTES. 

"  These  fauconers  upon  a  faire  rivere, 
That  with  the  hawkes  han  the  heron  slain.3' 

And  in  Ipomydon,  Vol.  II.  p.  283 :  * 

"  Both  of  houndis  and  haukis  game, 
Aftir  he  taught  him  all  and  same, 

In  se,  in  feld,  and  eke  in  ryuere.'' 

When  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  was  confined  at 
Tutbury  Castle,  in  1584,  Sir  Ralph  Sadler  permit- 
ted her  sometimes  to  accompany  him  on  this  sport, 
for  winch  he  nearly  incurred  the  severe  displeasure 
of  the  jealous  Elizabeth.  He  gives  the  following 
account  of  his  conduct:  u  When  I  cam  hither, 
fynding  this  countrey  commodious,  and  mete  for 
the  sport  which  I  have  alwayes  delighted  in,  I  sent 
home  for  my  hawkes  and  faulconers,  wherewith  to 
passe  this  miserable  lif  which  1  leade  here;  and  when 
they  cam  hither,  I  toke  the  comodyte  of  them 
somtymes  here  abrode,  not  farre  from  this  castell ; 
whereof  this  quene  hering,  ernestly  intreated  me 
that  she  mighte  go  abrode  with  me  to  see  my  hawkes 
flee,  a  passetyme  indede  which  she  hath  singular  de- 
light in  ;  and  I,  thinking  that  it  could  not  be  ill 
taken,  assented  vnto  her  desire,  and  so  hath  she  beue 
abrode  with  me  ii.  or  iii.  tymcs  hawking  vpon  the 
ryvers  here,  sometymes  a  myle,  sometyme  ii.  myles, 
but  not  past  iii.  myles,  when  she  was  furtherst  from 
this  castell."  Sir  Ralph  Sadler  s  State  Papers, 
Edin.  1809.     4to.     II.  538. 

813 — 821,  King  Phelip,  that  zcas  his  lord,  &c] 
Alexander  is  here  knighted,  and  that  exactly  in  the 
manner  of  the  time  in  which  the  author  wrote ;  but 
it  is  needless  to  notice  anachronisms  in  romances. 
The  girding  of  the  sword,  and  the  colee,  or  stroke 
with  an  unsheathed  sword  upon  the  neck,  were  ge- 
nerally performed  by  the  person  of  highest  rank  or 
greatest  renown  present.     See  TJOrdene  de  la  Che- 


NOTES.  297 

valerie,  printed,  together  with  the  more  modern 
prose  version,  in  the  new  edition  of  Barbazan's 
Fableaux,  tome  I.  p.  59.  and  79.  In  the  German 
romance  of  Octavian,  lately  dramatised  by  the  poet 
Tieck,  Florens  receives  the  colee  and  the  helmet 
from  the  hands  of  King  Dagobert  of  France ;  the 
breast-plate  from  Count  Armand  de  Provence ;  the 
shield  from  the  hands  of  Edward  King  of  England  ; 
the  sword  from  Rodrique,  the  Spanish  monarch  ; 
and  the  chain,  with  the  badge  of  St  Michael,  from 
the  Emperor  Octavian,  his  father.  These  circum- 
stances are  not  mentioned  in  the  English  metrical 
romance  on  the  same  story,  printed  in  this  volume. 
Whether  they  occur  in  the  original  French,  a  copy 
of  which  is  preserved  in  the  Bodleian  library  >  I  am 
not  able  to  say. 

868,  Nycolas  of  SarageJ]  An  evident  mistake 
for  Carthage :  See  line  960.  In  the  printed  copy 
this  king  is  called  Rex  Arrigonum^  who  are  de- 
scribed as  a  people  of  Peloponnesus.  Quintus  Cur- 
tius  mentions  Alexander's  conquest  of  the  Isle  of 
Arados  ;  but  it  is  a  hopeless  task  to  reconcile  geo- 
graphy with  romance. — D. 

1044,  Knyf-pleyngJ]  Tossing  up  knives  and 
catching  them ;  an  ancient  sport  practised  chiefly  by 
the  wandering  minstrels  or  jugglers.  It  is  alluded  to 
in  an  old  fabliau,  cited  by  Le  Grand  in  his  Fabliaux 
etContes,  11.326,  "  Et  sisaijoerdes  costeaux."  See 
a  representation  of  it  in  Strutt's  Horda  Angel.  Cyn- 
nan,  I.  PI.  xix. ;  and  again,  in  his  Glig.  Garaena 
Angel.  Diod.  PL  xvii. — D. 

In  the  interesting  German  romance,  entitled 
"Das  Heldenbuch,"  i.e.  The  Book  of  Heroes,  a 
curious  duel  is  fought  between  Wolfdietrich  and  the 
heathen  king,  Bellian.  They  stand  upon  two  chairs, 
and  throw  knives  at  each  other,  giving  previous  no- 
tice what  part  they  mean  to  hit ;  and,  of  course,  the 


298  NOTES. 

infidel  is  killed  by  the  knives  of  his  Christian  oppo- 
nent. This  was  a  far  more  serious  sport  than  the 
one  alluded  to  in  the  text. 

1033,  Forth  goth  Alisaundre  saun  fable, 
Ryght  to  the  heygh  table .] 

The  practice  of  riding  on  a  steed  into  the  middle 
of  a  hall  seems  not  to  have  been  uncommon  in  the 
chivalrous  times,  and  is  introduced  by  Spenser  into 
his  Faery  Queen.  See  Warton's  Observations  on 
that  poem,  Vol.  I.  §  5,  p.  45. 

1321,  There  woned  svmwhile  Kyng  Appolyn.~] 
It  is  probable,  that  the  celebrated  story  of  Apollyn 
suggested  the  name  to  our  poet  on  this  mention  of 
Tyre. — D. 

It  may  be  mentioned  here,  as  an  instance  of  sin- 
gular prolixity,  far  exceeding  that  of  any  poet,  an- 
cient or  modern,  that  a  German  metrical  romance 
on  the  subject  of  Apollonius  of  Tyre,  by  Henry  of 
Nuwenstatt,  is  stated  to  contain  above  100,000 
lines.  This  even  outdoes  the  French  romance  of 
Aymeri  de  Narbonne,  containing  77,000  ;  and  the 
English  one  of  the  holy  Graal,  consisting  of  40,000. 

1444,  Gras-Bologne,~\  i.  e.  Bologna  in  Italy, 
usually  denominated  La  Grassa.  The  other  places 
in  Italy,  mentioned  in  the  following  lines,  to  v. 
1472,  are  as  follows  :  Paduie,  Padua  ;  Mothun, 
Modena  ;  Tremoun  (we  should  probably  read  Cre- 
moun),  Cremona ;  Plesance,  Piacenza  ;  Pavie,  Pa- 
via ;  Parme,  Parma ;  Novarre,  Noverra ;  Dole,  a 
town  in  Dauphine;  Vcrsens,  Vercelli(?);  Melane, 
Milan  ;  Cene,  Sienna ;  Cortine,  Cortona  ;  Curci- 
nan,  probably  Picnza,  formerly  Corsinianum  ;  A- 
cisc,  olim  Assisium,  in  the  diocese  of  Spoleto ;  Go- 
byn,  Gabiauo ;  Orbencttc,  Orvieto  ;  Viterbe,  Vi- 
terbo  ;  Aretche,  Arezzo. 

1684;  And  goth  with  heom  to  an  orchard, 
Farlcment  they  holdith  hardJ] 


NOTES.  £99 

Darius  is  always  represented  throughout  the  poem 
as  assembling  his  council  in  an  orchard :  Indeed, 
they  seem  to  have  been  too  numerous  to  find  place 
in  any  building.     See  v.  1920,  1937,  &c. — E. 

1704,  Darie  him  sent 

Threo  thyngis  to  present : 

A  scourge,  and  a  top  of  nobleys, 

Ful  of  gold  and  an  haumudeysj] 

See  the  Glossary. 
In  the  Latin   printed  copy,   the  presents  are,  a 
ball,  a  whipping  top,  and  a  golden  crab.     In  the 
Latin  MS.  a  whip,  a  ball,  and  a  purse  of  money.— 
D. 

Similar  to  these  gifts  is  the  present  of  tennis-balls, 
mentioned  in  Shakespeare's  Henry  V.  as  sent  to  that 
monarch  by  the  French  dauphin,  which,  in  the  old 
play  of  Henry  V.  are  accompanied  by  a  carpet, 
(probably  in  allusion  to  the  carpet-knights,  so  of- 
ten mentioned  in  old  plays.) 

1712,  Syble,~\  Probably  Cybele ;  though  her 
relationship  to  Darius,  who  is  represented  as  her 
uncle  in  the  text,  has  not  hitherto  been  discovered 
by  mythologists. 

1791,  Civile,']  i.e.  Sicily;  Poyle  is  Apulia; 
Burgoyne,  Burgundy ;  and  Sclavoyne,  probablj 
Sclavonia. 

1922—1933,  Mount  Taryn,~]  Taurus,  see  v. 
2625  ;  Barbaryn,  men  of  Barbary  ;  Eufraten,  Eu- 
phrates ;  Sclaveyne,  Esclavonia;  Coloyne,  Co- 
logne, (the  Duke  of  Cologne  is  a  strange  attendant 
on  Darius);  Sab,  Saba;  Kaymes  kinrede,  the  kin- 
dred or  race  of  Cain. 

1995,  Ymagu.~\  This  personage  is  called  by  the 
same  name,  v.  2381  ;  but  is  called  Amagone,  in  v. 
2023, 

2033,  The  glove  he  gevith  heom  by  twene,  &c] 
Throwing  down  the  glove  seems  to  have  been  a  pari 
of  all  military  covenants. — E. 


3()0  tfOTES. 

21 50 ,   Tysoile^]  i.  e.  Thessaly. 

2202,   The  Latyn  autour."]     Who  this  Latin  au- 
thor was  it  would  be  no  easy   matter    to   disco- 
Tcr.     The  Latin    MS.   work    already   referred  to, 
in   some  of  these  notes,  was  professedly  compiled 
from  Trogus  Pompeius,  Solinus,  Josephus,  Orosius, 
lsidorus,  Jerome  (not  the  Saint,  but  perhaps  Jeroni- 
mus  Cardianus,  a  writer  of  Greek  and  Roman  his- 
tory,   mentioned  in  Dionysius  of  Halicarnassus), 
Bedc,  John  of  Salisbury,  Daniel  the  Prophet,  Pliny 
the  Elder,   Walter  of  Lisle,  Ethicus  Philosophus, 
Eutropius,   Valerius   Maximus,    Petrus  Comestor, 
Papias,  Megasthcnes,  Aristotle,  Placentius,  Macro- 
bius,  Lapidarius,  Diascorus,  Seneca,  Aulus  Gellius, 
Ralph  Higden,  monk   of  Chester  (the  mention  of 
whose  name  decides  that  the  English  poet  could  not 
have  used  this  work),  Herodotus,  Freculphus,  Bar- 
fholomrcus  dc  proprietatibus  rerum,  HugodeSancto 
Victore,  and  Frontinus.     This  motley  crew  is  given 
in  the  exact  order  of  the  original.     Of  the  French 
Alexander-,  whence  the  English  minstrel  has  per- 
haps extracted  the  chief  part  of  his  materials,  a  little 
more  can  be   said.     This  was  a  very  celebrated  me- 
trical romance,   still  existing  in  MS.  and  one  of  the 
oldest  specimens  of  the  French  language.     It  is  di- 
vided into  several  branches  ;  but  an  attempt  to  ap- 
propriate each  part  to  its  respective  author  would 
be  a  task  of  great  difficulty,  and,  after  all,  much 
uncertainty  would  remain.  v  We  find  in  them,  how- 
ever,  the  names  of  Lambert  li  Cors,   of  Alexander 
dc  Paris,  of  Maitrc  Eustace,  of  Brisebarre,  of  Pierre 
de  Saint  Cloud,  of  Thomas  of  Kent,  an  Englishman 
writing  in  very  bad  French,  of  Jean  li  Venelais,  of 
Jaques  de  Longuyon,  of  Simon  de  Lille,  with  one  of 
his  pupils,  and  of  Jean  de  Motelee.     Our  author 

*  See  the  Introduction. 


NOTES.  301 

has  probably  used  only  the  first  part  of  this  ex- 
tremely voluminous   composition,  which  ends  with 
the  death  of  Alexander,  and  is  supposed  to  have 
been  written  by  Maitre  Eustace,   Lambert  li  Cors, 
and  Alexander  of  Paris  or  Bernay.     The  rest  of  the 
before  named  authors   lived  a  century  later,   and 
their  continuations  embrace  various  incidents  arising 
out  of  the  former  romance,  such  as  the  testament  of 
Alexander  ;  the  vengeance  of  Allienor,  the  son  of 
Alexander,  for  the  death  of  his  father  ;  the  vow  of 
the  peacock,  in  which  Alexander  is  brought  back 
into  existence,  and  a  new  series  of  adventures  allot- 
ted him ;  and  the  return  or  restoration  of  the  pea- 
cock, with  two  continuations  of  the  latter.     There 
are  likewise  some  French  Alexanders  in  prose.    One 
of  these,  probably  compiled  from  the  above  metri- 
cal works,  is  in  the  British  Museum,  Bibl.  Reg.  15. 
E.  VI.  with  beautiful  illuminations.     Another  has 
less  of  the  marvellous  about  it.     Indeed,  the  author 
presumes  to  call  it  a  true  history,  and  particularly 
condemns  the  fables  of  Lancelot,  of  Ogier  the  Dane, 
and  of  Reynard  the  Fox.     He  addresses  his  work  to 
the  then  reigning  king  of  France;  and  at  the  end 
exhorts  him  to  undertake  the  conquest  of  India,  for 
the  purpose  of  converting  the  natives  to  Christianity. 
He  draws  a  curious  parallel  between  Alexander  and 
his  own  sovereign,  much  to  the  advantage  of  the 
latter,  who,  he  says,  delights  rather  in  u  Les  armes 
et  les  ames,  que  les  dances  et  les  dames,"  and  most 
strenuously  recommends  the  enterprize  as  a  vacant 
throne  of  glory.     Both  these  are  of  the  15th  cen-r 
tury,  and  there  are  many  more  in  the  national  li- 
brary at  Paris  which  it  might  be  worth  while  to  ex- 
amine.— D. 

2589,  Prestre  Jon.~]     A  name  formerly  given  to 
the  king  of  India,  and  not,  as  is  sometimes  errone- 


302  NOTES. 

ously  supposed,  belonging  to  the  king  of  Abyssu 
nia.  He  obtained  the  name,  under  the  idea  that  he 
was  a  Christian. — D. 

Mandeville  gives  the  following  account  of  his  ha- 
ving obtained  that  appellation  :  u  There  was  sum- 
tyme  an  emperour  that  was  a  noble  man  and  a  do  wty. 
And  he  hade  many  Cristen  kynges  vnder  him.  And 
the  emperour  thowght  that  he  wold  se  the  manere 
of  Cristen  men  seruyse  in  holy  church.  And  than 
wer  chyrches  in  all  the  cuntres,  in  Torky,  Surrye, 
Tartari,  Jerusalem,  Palastari,  Arabi,  and  Harrape*, 
and  all  the  lond  of  Egypt ;  and  all  the  londes  wer 
that  time  Cresten.  And  yt  was  on  a  Saturdaye  in 
Wytson-weke  wan  the  basschope  made  ordyrs ;  and 
he  beheld  the  servyce,  and  he  askyd  a  knyght  what 
folke  schuld  be  tho  that  stode  before  the  busschope. 
And  the  knyght  scyd,  they  schuld  be  prestes  ;  and 
than  he  seyd,  that  a  wold  no  more  be  callyd  empe- 
rour nor  kynge,  but  prester.  And  he  wold  haue 
the  name  of  hym  that  cam  out  what  that  euer  he 
hight.  And  so  yt  happid,  that  the  prest  that  cam 
out  fyrst  hight  John,  and  so  hath  all  the  emperours 
sythyn  be  callyd  Prester  Jon." — MS.  in  the  Advo- 
cates' Library,  Edinburgh.  The  first  novel  among 
the  Cento  Novelle  Antiche,  gives  an  account  of  the 
splendid  embassy  which  this  monarch  sent  to  the 
emperor  Frederick  II.  ;  and  among  the  MSS.  Reg, 
in  the  Museum,  occurs,  u  La  Chartre  que  Prestrc 
Jehan  maunda  a  Frederick  I.  Empereur^  de  Mer- 
veilles  de  sa  Terre."  Marco  Polo  relates,  that,  in 
the  city  of  Tenduc  in  Tartary,  he  found  the  king  a 
descendant  of  this  Prcstre  John,  named  George,  and 
professing  the  Christian  religion.  According  to 
other  authorities,  the  original  Prester  John  was  the 
son  of  Gerdeboles,  king  of  Frisia,  who  bore  that 

*  Probably  Halop,  /.  e,  Aleppo. 


NOTES.  303 

title  on  account  of  his  piety,  and  who  obtained  the 
country  of  India  from  Ogier  the  Dane,  and  after  him 
his  successors  retained  the  name. 

2602,  &c]  Achye,  Achaia ;  Champoyne,  la 
Campagna  di  Roma. 

2613,  Alblastrerisr\  Le  Grand  (II.  79.)  de- 
rives the  word  Arblast  from  the  Latin,  Arcu-Balis- 
ta,  as  it  were  a  Baliste  a  main.  It  is  first  spoken 
of  in  the  Life  of  Louis-le-Gros,  who  ascended  the 
throne  in  1108;  from  whence^  it  is  probable,  that 
this  weapon  was  imported  by  the  first  crusaders 
from  Asia.  In  1139,  it  was  formally  anathematiz- 
ed ;  in  consequence  of  which,  it  sunk  into  disre- 
pute, till  revived  by  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion,  who 
himself  fell  a  victim  to  his  favourite  weapon.  The 
Arblasters  formed  a  very  important  part  of  the  ar- 
my; and  their  commander,  in  France,  was  dignified 
by  the  title  of  Grand  Maitre  des  Arbaletriers,  and 
bore  the  rank  of  one  of  the  great  crown-officers. 

In  the  very  curious  satire,  entitled,  "  La  Bible 
Guiot  de  Provence,"  written  in  the  13th  century, 
and,  for  the  first  time,  printed  in  the  late  edition  of 
Barbazan  (as  the  editor  M.  Meon  calls  it,  with  sin- 
gular modesty,  though  it  contains  twice  as  much  as 
was  ever  published  in  the  different  works  of  Bar- 
bazan), the  author  complains,  that  knights  had 
been  superseded  by  other  more  menial  troops, 
(v,  182.) 

-"  Chevaliers  sont  esperdu. 


Cil  ont  auques  lors  tens  perdu, 
Arbalestier  et  mineor, 
Et  perrier  et  engingn6or, 
Seront  dorenavant  plus  drier." 

2656,  So  is  Chepe  in  this  londe."]  This  is  a  sin- 
gular comparison  of  the  streets  of  Thebes  to  that  of 
Cheapside^  in  the  city  of  London. 


304  NOTES. 

2741,  Naverne^j  i.  e.  Navarra,  a  strange  ana- 
chronism. 

2 843 ,   Tofore  the  kyng  com  an  harpour, 
And  made  a  lay  of  gret  favour. ,] 

Harpers  and  minstrels,  from  the  earliest  times, 
were  considered  as  inviolable ;  and  were  therefore 
often  chosen  for  the  most  desperate  embassies.  It 
is  well  known,  that  both  Alfred  the  Great  and  the 
Danish  king,  Anlaft,  under  this  disguise,  proceeded, 
in  the  character  of  spies,  to  explore  the  camps  of  the 
enemy. 

2849,  Aliber^  the  god  of  wine^\  i.  e.  Liber, 
Bacchus. 

2867 — 2875.]  Echeilieches,  Eteocles;  Polonices, 
Polinices ;   Pertonopus,  Parthenopceus. 

3012,  He  doth  by  Aristotle1  s  counsaile.~]  The  tu- 
tor— and  counsellorship  of  this  philosopher  afford- 
ed the  subject  of  many  productions  of  the  middle 
ages.  The  beautiful  fableau  of  iC  Le  lai  d' Aristotle," 
is  well  known  from  its  publication  by  Barbazan, 
and  still  more  from  having  been  analyzed  by  Le 
Grand,  and  translated  into  English  verse  by  Way. 
There  also  exists  a  German  translation  of  the  thir- 
teenth century,  printed  in  Miller's  Sammlung, 
Vol.  III.  Another  work  is  noticed  in  the  following 
terms  by  Warton  (Vol.  II.  p.  8.)  :  ff  It  is  pre- 
tended by  the  mystic  writers,  that  Aristotle,  in  his 
old  age,  reviewed  his  books,  and  digested  his  philo-, 
sophy  into  one  system  or  body,  which  he  sent  in 
the  form  of  an  epistle  to  Alexander.  This  is  thus 
described  by  Lydgate,  who  has  translated  part  of  it: 

"  Title  of  this  book  Lapis  Philosophoium, 
Namyd  also  Dc  Regimine  Principum, 

Of  philosophres  Secretum  Secrdorum. 

The  which  booke  direct  to  the  kyng 
Alysaundre,  both  in  wcrre  and  pees, 
Lyke  his  request  and  royall  commanding 
Fulle  accomplishid  by  Aristotiles." 


NOTES.  305 

Gower  also  introduces  these  supposed  instruc- 
tions in  the  7th  book  of  his  Confessio,  (apud  Chal- 
mers's Poets,  Vol.  II.  p.  202.) 

Pierre  de  Vernon,  in  the  12th  century,  composed 
a  poem,  entitled  Les  Enseignemens  d'Aristote,  pre- 
served among  the  MSS.  fonds  de  V  Eglise  de  Paris, 
N.  5,  fol.  173  ;   which  begins  thus  : 

"  Primes  saciez  ke  icest  tretiez 
Est  le  secr£  de  secrez  nnmez, 
Ke  Aristotle  le  philosoplie  y  doine, 
Le  fiz  Nichomache  de  Macedoine 
A  sun  deciple  Alisandre  en  bone  fei 
Le  grant,  le  fiz  a  Phelippe  le  Rei, 
Le  fist  en  sa  grannt  vielesce. 

The  same  work  was  translated  into  French  prose; 
and,  in  1528,  an  English  prose  version  was  printed 
by  Copland.  Other  supposititious  works  of  Aris- 
totle are,  u  De  Regiminibus  Ccelestibus  ;" — u  Po- 
litiques,  or  Discourses  of  Government,"  translated 
from  the  French  of  Louis  le  Roy,  printed  in  the 
year  1527,  &c. 

In  the  introduction  to  the  life  of  the  doughty 
cavalier  Don  Pero  Nino,  as  1  am  informed  in  a  let- 
ter from  an  ingenious  correspondent,  as  well  as  in 
the  body  of  the  work,  the  chronicler  had  intro- 
duced copious  accounts  of  the  four  ancient  wor- 
thies, Hector,  Nebuchadnezzar,  Alexander  the  Great, 
and  Julius  Caesar.  But  the  Spanish  editors,  with 
greater  pedantry  than  taste,  have  expunged  these 
digressions  whenever  they  occurred,  u  as  they 
deemed  it  superfluous  to  retain  such  manifest  fic- 
tions." Fortunately,  however,  these  merciless  ad- 
mirers of  truth  have  spared  a  curious  fragment  of 
sixteen  or  eighteen  stanzas,  containing  the  advice 
which  Aristotle  gave  to  his  pupil,  when  he  was 
about  to  ascend  the  throne. 

3016—3031,]  Akaye,  Achaia ;    Romele,    (Ru- 

VOL.  III.  U 


306*  NOTES. 

melia,  (the  modern  name  of  Thrace?);  Romania, 
(another  name  for  Thrace?);  Gene,  Genoa;  Sa- 
veye,  Savoy  ;  Cydoyne,  Sidon. 

3047,  &c.  N'ultow  neuer,  late  no  skete, 
A  goshawk  maken  of  a  kete, 
Nofaucon  mak  of  busard,  &c] 

Similar  to  these  lines  are  two  French  proverbs,  men- 
tioned by  Cotgrave :  "  On  ne  pent  faire  d'hibou 
esparvier  ;"  and  "  On  ne  peut  d'un  pigeon  faire  un 
vif  esparvier*" 

3099,  Cornythe^\  i.  e,  Corinth. 

3268,  Gonnes*~\  Notwithstanding  the  various  o- 
pinions  that  have  been  formed  respecting  the  first 
use  of  machines  for  expelling  balls  of  stone  or  iron 
by  means  of  gunpowder,  we  are  far  from  posses- 
sing clear  and  concise  ideas  on  the  subject.  Bishop 
Watson,  in  his  Chemical  Essays,  has  taken  some 
pains  to  collect  authorities,  the  most  curious  of 
which  are,  1.  That  a  piece  of  ordnance  still  exists  at 
Bamberg,  in  Germany,  inscribed  1303.  2.  That 
passages  appear  in  the  works  of  Roger  Bacon,  who 
died  1292,  which  imply  his  knowledge  of  the  ef- 
fects of  powder.  3*  That  the  Earls  of  Derby  and 
Salisbury  assisted  at  the  siege  of  Algesiras,  in  1343, 
where  the  Moors  fired  hot  bullets  ;  which  practice, 
he  thinks,  they  might  have  introduced  at  the  battle 
of  Crecy.  And  yet  it  does  not  seem  absolutely  ne- 
cessary, that  gunpowder  should  be  used  for  the  pur- 
pose of  ejecting  hot  balls.  The  bishop  thinks  that 
this  article  was  not  manufactured  in  England  before 
1417  ;  but  he  was  not  aware  of  a  prohibition  men- 
tioned by  Rymer,  as  made  in  1414,  against  export- 
ing it.  The  knowledge  of  gunpowder  might  have 
been  brought  into  Europe  from  China,  or  even  from 
India,  at  a  very  early  period.  See  Staunton's  ac- 
count of  the  embassy  to  China,  II.  292  ;  and  Bell's 
travclsj  II.  54.     Mr  Warton,  in  the  emendations  to 


NOTES.  307 

Vol.  I.  of  his  History  of  English  Poetry,  sign.  #, 
has  cited  a  remarkable  passage  from  Petrarch,  de  re- 
mediis  utriusque  fortunes^  in  which  something  very 
much  resembling  our  modern  artillery  is  mentioned  ; 
but  the  learned  writer  does  not  appear  to  have  seen 
an  ancient  German  edition  of  this  work,  in  which 
there  is  a  cut  appropriate  to  the  passage,  with  a  can- 
non, dated  1319.  Petrarch  must  have  written  the 
above  before  1334,  as  appears  from  some  internal 
evidence.  Holinshed  has  recorded  the  capture  of 
two  French  ships  in  1386,  with  gunpowder  on 
board ;  and  a  marginal  note  says,  that  guns  were 
invented  six  years  before  ;  II.  p.  1056,  edit.  1577. 
In  the  u  Legons  de  Messie"  p.  33,  two  old  chro- 
nicles are  mentioned,  from  which  it  appears,  that 
the  Moors  used  cannon  at  a  very  early  period,  and 
long  before  the  siege  of  Algesiras. 

As  to  the  word  gonne,  we  have  here,  perhaps, 
the  earliest  use  of  it  that  can  now  be  adduced,  and 
it  certainly  signifies  a  machine  for  expelling  balls  of 
some  kind,   or  pellets,  as  Chaucer  calls  them ;  but 
it  by  no  means  follows  that  gunpowder  was  origi- 
nally used  for  this  purpose.     The  period  seems  too 
early,  if  we  believe  in  some  of  the  preceding  autho- 
rities, at  least  so  far  as  relates  to  our  own  country. 
A  gun  might  have  originally  been  a  machine  of  the 
catapult  kind  *,  and,   on  the  adoption  of  powder, 
having  changed  its  form,  might  still  retain  its  name, 
whilst  the  new  materials  would  take  the  name  of 
gi/;i-powder.     There  is  no  term  in  any  of  the  old 
northern  languages  that  approaches  the  word  gonne 
in  this  sense;  and  Junius's  attempt  at  a  Greek  de- 
rivation   is   almost   unworthy   of  notice.     I   once 
thought  it  a  contraction  of  engine,  until  I  found 
Chaucer  using   the  words  ginne  and  gonne  toge- 
ther.      Somner    has    plausibly  enough    derived    it 
from  mango na  or  mangonel,  which  was  a  machine 


308  NOTES. 

for  throwing  stones ;  but  this  is  objectionable, 
inasmuch  as  both  machines  were  in  use  at  the 
same  period.  The  French  are  said  to  have  de- 
rived their  word  canon,  which  has  been  since 
adopted  by  ourselves  and  the  Italians,  from  canna, 
on  account  of  the  resemblance  of  this  warlike  in- 
strument to  a  reed  ;  and  some  have  thought  ih&tgwi 
may  be  deduced  from  the  same  original :  but  there 
is  likewise  an  objection  to  this  etymology,  because 
we  find  in  our  present  instance,  that  the  word  was 
used,  according  to  probability,  before  gunpowder 
was  invented.  It  is,  however,  possible  to  reverse 
the  argument,  and,  by  adopting  the  preceding  dates 
on  cannons,  to  affix  to  this  composition  an  anti- 
quity which  it  wanted  before ;  the  general  opinion 
ascribing  its  invention  to  the  German  monk  Schwartz, 
about  the  year  1354.  Indeed,  on  the  correct  sense 
of  the  word  in  question,  depends  not  only  the  origin 
of  gunpowder,  but  also  the  age  of  our  poem  itself. 
The  reader  will  therefore  weigh  the  evidence  which 
is  before  him,  and  decide  as  he  thinks  proper. — D. 

3435,   They  thenkith  to  warde  wel  that  tyde. 
With  cartes  and  waynes  strong.~\ 

This  simple  mode  of  fortification  has  always  been 
in  use  among  the  Tartars  and  other  pastoral  nations. 
E. 

3447 — 8.]  Cecile,  probably  Cilicia ;  Ermonye, 
Armenia. 

3512,  Now  this  gest  tellith  here 
Of  this  leche  Felipoun.~\ 

The  poet  here  alludes  to  the  story  related  by 
Quintus  Curtius,  of  Alexander's  noble  conduct  to 
his  physician  Philip,  falsely  calumniated  by  Par- 
menio,  who,  in  a  letter  to  the  king,  had  accused 
Philip  of  a  design  to  poison  him. — D. 

3632,  Casedoyse.']  Probably  Capedoyse,  i,  e. 
Capadocie. 


NOTES.  309 

3649,  With  his  sweord  of  Cologne.]  The  city 
of  Cologne,  in  Germany,  was  not  only  celebrated 
for  the  swords  manufactured  there,  but  also  for  its 
artists,  in  very  ancient  times.  So,  in  the  German 
poem  of  Percival,  written  in  the  beginning  of 
the  13th  century,  the  poet  Wolfram  Von  Eschen- 
bach,  v.  4705,  speaking  of  the  beauty  of  a  knight? 
says : 

"  Von  Choelne  noch  von  Mastricht 
Dechein  sciltaere  entwurf  en  baz." 

i.  e.   "  No  painter  of  Cologne  or  Mastricht  could 
have  designed  him  better." 

It  will,  perhaps,  not  be  considered  as  out  of 
place  to  subjoin  the  following  lines  from  the  same 
romance,  as  they  seem  to  prove,  that,  besides  the 
Percival  of  Chrestien  de  Troyes,  there  existed  another 
French  poem  on  the  subject  by  Kyot,  a  Proven- 
cial  poet.  It  occurs  at  the  close  of  the  poem,  (v. 
24,718.) 

Ob  von  Troys  meister  Christian, 
Disem  maere  hat  unrecht  getan, 
Daz  mach  wol  zurnen  Kyot, 
Der  uns  die  rehten  maere  entbot. 
Endehaft  giht  der  Provenzal 
Wie  Harceloyden  kind  den  Graal 
Erwarp,  &c. 

The  following  is  a  literal  version  of  these  verses : 
u  Because  master  Christian  of  Troys  has  done 
wrong  to  this  tale,  Kyot  may  wel  be  angry  for  it, 
who  has  told  us  the  true  story.  In  the  end,  the 
Provencal  (poet)  tells  us  how  the  child  of  Herce- 
loyd  (Percival)  obtained  the  Graal,"  &c.  See  also 
Ritsori's  Romances^  III.  245. 

3690,  &c]  Daries  are  probably  subjects  of 
Darius  (a  singular  word,  perhaps  fabricated  by  the 
author) ;  Perseniens,  Persians  ;   Turkeis,    Turks  ; 


310  NOTES. 

Escleiris,  perhaps,  as  Mr  Douce  conjectures,  people 
of  Esthaol  in  Palestine ;  Mcdiens,  Medes ;  Capado- 
ces,  Capadocians  ;  Suliens,  Syrians  (Surry  was  a 
very  usual  apeliation  for  Syria);  Caldians,  Chal- 
deans. ;  Ebriens,  Hebrews  ;  Crctiens,  Cretans ; 
Partiens,  Parthians ;  Emaniens,  (people  about 
Emaus  ?) 

3795,  Other  tole  nane  I payd.~\  Alluding  to  the 
tribute  demanded  of  Alexander  by  Darius. 

3830,  Egregies.^\     For  Gregeis,  Greeks. 

3862,  He  blezo  his  horn,  saun  doute.~]  The  fa- 
bulous horn  of  Alexander,  which  is  here  only 
slightly  hinted  at,  is  described,  in  the  words  of 
VVarton,  as  being  of  such  magnitude  that  he  u  gave 
the  signal  to  the  whole  army"  with  it,  and  that 
it  "  might  be  heard  at  the  distance  of  sixty  miles, 
being  blown  or  sounded  by  sixty  men  at  once.', 
The  same  horn  is  mentioned  in  the  Secretum  Secre- 
torum,  and  is  nigh  akin  to  the  miraculous  horns  of 
the  Orlando  Innamorato,  and  the  Orlando  Fu* 
rioso. 

4088,  Estrage.~\  The  Italian  prose  life  of  Alex- 
ander says,  that  the  Persian  name  for  this  river  was 
Stragma,  from  which  this  word  may  possibly  be 
corrupted. — E. 

The  Latin  copy  calls  the  river  Grancus,  i.  e. 
Granicus,  and  says  it  was  named  Stagnia  by  the 
Persians. — D. 

4160,  And  saidc,  6t  Of  tale  beo  smart, 

Alisaundre  thy seolf  thou  hit  art."~\ 

In  the  Italian  life  of  Alexander,  Darius  suspects 
Alexander's  disguise  from  the  haughtiness  of  his 
language — E. 

4178,  Pyment.~]  Pyment  and  claret,  which  are 
often  mentioned  in  these  volumes,  are  spiced  or  ar- 
tificial wines ;  indeed  the  latter  seems  only  to  have 
been  a  species  of  the  former,  as  will  appear  from 


NOTES.  mi 

the  following  passage  from  Mamotrect.  ad  3.  Reg. 
c.  20.  :  a  Pigmenta,  i.  e.  confectiones  ex  vino  et 
melle  et  diversis  speciebus  suaves  et  odoriferos. 
Hoc  pigmentum,  vulgariter  claretum."  And  in  Bar- 
tholinus  de  Proprietate  Rerum,  lib.  xix.  c.  56.,  we 
have  the  following  account  of  claret:  tc  Claretum 
ex  vino  et  melle  et  speciebus  aromaticis  confectum  : 
uam  species  aromaticae  in  subtilissimum  pulverem 
conteruntur5  et  in  sacco  lineo  vel  mundo  cum  melle 
rel  Zucara  reponuntur.  Vino  autem  optimo  species 
perfunduntur,  et  reperfunduntur  quemadmodum 
tit  lixivia,  et  tamdiu  renovatur  perfusio,  donee  vir- 
tus specierum  vino  incorporetur,  et  optime  clari- 
ficetur,  unde  a  vino  contrahit  fortitudinem  et  acu- 
men, a  speciebus  autem  retinet  aromaticitatem  et 
odorem,  sed  a  melle  dulccdinem  mutuatur  et  sapo- 
rem." 

4300,   The  king  dude  sette  out  his  dragoun, 
And  on  his  tent  a  gold  lyoun.~\ 

According  to  Leigh's  Accidence  of  Armory, 
u  Alexander  did  bear  gules,  a  lion,  or,"  and  so  his 
arms  are  represented  in  a  cut  to  the  French  romance 
of  the  Nine  Worthies,   1487. — E.  D. 

3421,  Hitfareth  by  a  mon  so  by  thefioure  : 
Bote  after  no  may  he  dure  ! 
So  glyt  away  so  doth  thefureJ\ 

u  As  a  flower  of  the  field  so  he  flourisheth,  for 
the  wind  passeth  over  it  and  it  is  gone."  Psalm 
ciii.  15,  16. 

4781,  &c.  Ysidre,  &c]  Ysidre,  as  Mr  War- 
ton  observes,  is  probably  Isidorus  Hispaliensis,  a 
Latin  author  of  the  seventh  century.  Eustroge  is 
certainly  Eutropius,  who  is  quoted  also  as  an  au- 
thority in  the  Latin  MS.  penes  Mr  Douce.  The 
mention  of  Saint  Jerome  seems  to  militate  against 
the  supposition  of  Mr  Douce,  (see  p.  300  of  this 
volume)  that  the  Jerome  noticed  in  the  Latin  MS. 


312  NOTES. 

is  not  the  Saint,  but  Jeronimus  Cardanus.  \t  is, 
however,  more  probable  that  the  English  poet  com- 
mitted a  blunder,  as  St  Jerome  was  undoubtedly 
most  familiar  to  him.  Denys  (v.  4790.)  is  certain- 
ly Dionysius  Halicarnassus ;  Magestene,  Megas- 
thenes,  mentioned  in  the  same  MS.  ;  and  bv  Pom- 
pey,  as  Mr  Warton  says,  the  poet  means  Justin's 
Trogus  Pompeius,  whom  he  confounds  with  Pom- 
pey  the  Great. 

4805,  Face?i.~]     That  is,  the  city  of  Phasis. 
4862,  Gangaridea.li       The    inhabitants    of   this 
island  are  the  Pigmies  of  antiquity,   though  not  of 
equal  minuteness.   Those  of  Mandeville  are  described 
in  the  following  manner :  "  This  reuerc  goth  thourgh 
the  Jond  of  Pigmeis,  and  tho  men  be  of  litill  statur, 
for  they  be  but  of  thre  palme  long  ;  and  they  be 
right  fay  re  folke  though   thei  be   litill.     And   they 
be  weddyd  wan   they  be  halfe  a  yere  old,  and  they 
leue  but  vii.  yere;  and  he  that  leuith  viii.  yere  is 
holdon  right  old.     Thes  smale  men  trauayle  right 
nowght,   but  they  haue  amonge  hem  right  gret  men 
to  travell   for   them.     And  they  haue  gret  mervaile 
of  thes  men  as  we  wold  haue  of  geante  amonge  vs." 
In  the  German  romance  of  Duke  Ernestus,   they 
are  represented  as  reaching  only  to  the  knee  of  an 
ordinary    man  ;   they  lived  in   continual  dread  of  a 
large  kind  of  birds,   upon  whose  eggs,   which  they 
privately  stole,  they  subsisted.     See  the  abstract  of 
this  curious  romance  at   the  end  of  these  notes  on 
King  Alisaunder. 

4932,  Fiesshe  hy  etc?)  raw  and  hoot.~\  This  de- 
scription suits  well  enough  for  the  Calmucks  and 
other  Tartars. 

4973,  Another  folk)  &c]  These  people  arc  the 
Hfmantipodes  of  Poinpouius  Mela,  and  the  Lori- 
pedes  of  L  liny  and  Solinus,  In  the  romance  of 
Ernestus,  quoted  above,   they  also  occur,  and  are 


NOTES.  313 

denominated  Plattfeet,  and  in  the  Latin  poem  on 
the  same  subject,  written  by.Odo  about  the  year 
1200,  Scenopedce.  Mancieville  also  asserts,  that 
6i  In  Ethiope  be  seen  lolke  that  haue  bot  o  fott, 
and  they  go  so  fast,  that  yt  ys  mervayle  to  tell, 
and  yt  ys  a  large  fott,  for  yt  makyth  schadowe  and 
couers  ihe  body  fro  the  sonne." 

5182,  Solim.~\  The  Polyhistor  of  Julius  Soli- 
nus,  which,  on  account  of  the  wonders  it  records, 
was  in  high  favour  in  the  middle  ages  ;  and,  accord- 
ing to  Vossius,  was  even  translated  into  hexameter 
in  the  twelfth  century. 

5348,  DragounsS]  The  description  of  the  dra- 
gon conquered  by  Sir  Bevis  has  already  been  quot- 
ed by  Bishop  Percy  (Reliques,  iii.  217.)  from  the 
printed  copy.  1  he  oldest  copy  of  that  romance, 
preserved  in  the  Auchinleck  MS.,  is,  however,  so 
completely  different  from  any  other,  (excepting  a 
large  fragment  in  a  MS.  lately  discovered^  and  now 
in  the  possession  of  the  Marquis  of  Staiford,  which 
coincides  pretty  generally  with  it)  that  I  am  tempt- 
ed to  extract  the  passage  as  it  stands  there : 

After  Josian'is  cristing,  (a) 

Beues  dede  a  gret  fighting, — ■ 

Swich  bataile  ded  neuer  non 

Cristene  man  of  rlesch  and  bon, — ■ 

Of  a  dragoim  thar  beside, 

That  Beues  slough  ther  in  that  tide  : 

Saue  Sire  Launcelet  de  Lake, 

He  fought  with  a  fur-drake,  (b) 

And  Wade  dede  also,  (c) 

And  neuer  knightes  boute  thai  to, 

(«)  Baptism.        (b)  Fire-drake, 

(c)  This  is  a  valuable  addition  to  our  knowledge  of  the 
achievements  of  this  hero,  the  loss  of  whose  gest,  which  is 
mentioned  by  Chaucer,  has  been  so  much  deplored.  Wade's 
adventure  with  the  dragon  is  only  alluded  to  in  the  Auchjn- 
leck  and  Stafford  MSS.  of  Sir  Bevis. 


'314;  NOTES. 

And  Gij  of  Warwik  ich  understonde 
Slough  a  dragoun  in  Northhomberlondc. 
How  that  ilehe  (a)  dragoun  com  ther 
Ich  wile  yow  telle  in  what  manere. 

Thar  was  a  king  in  Poyle-lond,  (b) 
And  another  in  Calabre  ich  vnderstonde, 
This  twe  kinge  foughte  i-fere  (c) 
More  than  foure  and  tventi  yere, 
That  hii  (d)  neuer  pes  (e)  n'olde,  (/) 
Nather  for  seluer  ne  for  golde  ; 
And  all  the  contre,  saun  doute, 
Thai  distruede  al  aboute. 
Thai  hadde  mani  marines  kours,  (g) 
Wharthourgh  hii  ferden  wel  the  wors. 
Thaifore  hii  deide  in  dedli  sinne, 
And  helle  pine  (h)  thai  gan  hem  whine. 
After,  in  a  lite  (£)  while, 
Thai  become  dragouns  vile  ;  (A.) 
And  so  thai  foughte  i-fere 
More  than  foure  and  thretti  yere. 

An  ermite  was  in  that  londe, 
That  was  feld  (I)  of  Godes  Sond.  (»i) 

<a)Same,  (b)  Apulia.         (c)  Together,  (d)  They. 

(e)  Peace.  (/)  Ne  wolde,  would  not.  (g)  Curse, 

(ft)  Pain.  (?)  Little. 

(/c)  This  transformation  is  not  without  numerous  parallels, 
both  in  English  and  foreign  romance.  To  the  beautiful  ballad 
of  Kempion,  in  the  Minstrelsy  of  the  Border,  (edit.  1 810,  iii.  15.) 
which  is  founded  on  a  similar  metamorphosis,  an  account  of 
numerous  others,  collected  from  various  authorities,  is  prefix- 
ed, to  which  the  reader  is  referred.  In  the  highly  popular 
German  story-book,  "  The  horny  Siegfried,"  Florigunda,  the 
daughter  of  King  Gilbaldus,  resident  at  Worms,  is  seized  by 
a  fire-drake  and  carried  to  his  castle,  called  Drachenstein 
(i.  e.  the  Rock  of  the  Dragon.)  The  drake,  on  Easterday,  is 
transformed  into  a  man,  and  informs  her  that,  after  five  years, 
he  would  reassumc  his  original  human  shape  and  marry  her. 
He  is,  however,  disappointed ;  for  the  hero  of  the  tale  previ- 
ously  destroys  him,  and  delivers  the  maiden.  See  also  the 
extravagant  but  romantic  tale  "  The  Sisters,"  in  the  Popular 
Tales  of  the  Germans,  collected  by  Musjdus,  which,  as  well 
as  the  other  stories  in  that  collection,  is  founded  upon  real 
traditions  among  the  people,  though  clothed  by  the  collector 
in  a  flippant  modem  style. 

(7)  Qu.  waled,  chosen  ?        (wt)  Ambassador ;  hence  Godes 
§ond,  i.  e.  tu«  Messiah. 


NOTES.  315 

To  Jesu  Christ  a'  (a)  bad  (b)  a  bone, 

That  he  deliure  the  dragouns  sone 

Out  of  that  ilche  stede, 

That  hii  na  more  harm  ne  dede  : 

And  Jesu  Christ  that  sit  in  heuene 

Wei  herde  that  ermites  steuene,  (c) 

And  grauntede  him  'is  praiere. 

Anon  the  dragouns  botti  i-fere 

Tok  her  flight  and  flowe  awai : 

Thar  neuer  eft  (d)  men  hem  ne  sai. 

That  on  flegh  anon  withthan 

Til  a'  com  to  Toscan. 

That  other  dragouu  'is  flight  ncme  (e) 

To  Seinte  Peter  'is  brige  of  Rome  : 

Thar  he  schel  leggen  ai  (/*) 

Til  hit  come  domesdai ; 

And  eueri  seue  yer  ones, 

Whan  the  dragOun  moweth  (g)  'is  bones, 

Thanne  cometh  a  roke  (/i)  and  a  stink 

Out  of  the  water,  vnder  the  brink, 
That  men  therof  taketh  the  feuere, 

That  neuer  after  mai  lie  keuere  ;  (i) 

And  who  tuat  n'el  nought  leue  (fe)  me 

Wite  (I)  at  pilgrimes  that  ther  hath  be ; 

For  thai  can  tell  yow,  I  wis, 

Of  that  dragoun  how  it  is. 

That  other  than  flegh  an  highe, 

Thourgh  Toskan  and  Lorn  bardie, 

Thourgh  Prouince,  withouten  ensoin,  (m) 

Into  the  lond  of  Coloyne. 

Thar  the  dragon  gan  aiiue 

At  Coloyne  vnder  a  cliue  (n) 

His  eren  were  rowe(o)and  ek  long; 

His  frount  before  hard  and  strong  : 

Eighte  toskes  at  'is  moutu  stod  out, 

The  leste  was  seuentene  ench  about. 

The  her  (p)  the  cholle  (q)  vnder  the  cliing;  (r) 

He  was  bothe  leith  (s)  and  grim. 

(a)  He.  (6)  Prayed.  (c)  Prayer.  (d)  After. 

(ej  Took.  (/)  Lay  for  ever.    '  (g)  Moveth. 

(h)  Reke,  smoke. 

(i)  Recover.    This  is  a  strange  account  of  the  fevers  arising 
from  the  Pontine  Marshes  in  the  Campagna  di  R^ma. 

(k)  Believe.  (I)  Know,  inquire.  (m)  Hinderance. 

(n)Cluf.        (o)  Rough.        (j>)  Hair.        (g)  [?]        (r)  Chin. 
(s)  Loathsome. 


316  NOTES. 

A*  was  i-mained  ase  a  stede  ; 

The  heued  (a)  a'  bar  with  meche  pride. 

Betwene  the  scholder  and  the  taile 

Foure  and  twenli  for,  saun  faile  : 

His  taile  was  of  gret  stringethe,  (6) 

Sextene  fot  a'  was  a'  lingthe. 

His  bodi  as  a  win-tonne  ; 

Whan  hit  schon  the  brighte  sonne, 

His  wingges  schon  so  the  glas. 

His  sides  wer  hard  ase  eni  bras, 

His  brest  was  hard  ase  eni  ston  ; 

A  fouler  thing  n'as  neucr  non. 

L.  2597-2630. 

In  the  Glossce  Blasiancs,  which  were  collected  in 
the  9th,  11th,  12th  centuries,  and  printed  behind 
Gerberti  Iter  Aleman.j  we  have  the  following  in- 
terpretation of  the  Teutonic  term  Draho  :  si  Draco 
basiliscus  regulus  vel  sibilus,  eo  quod  sit  rex  serpen- 
tiura,  adeo  ut  eum  videntes  fugiant,  quia  olfactu 
suo  eos  necat :  a  mustelis  tamen  vincitur." 

A  singular  property  of  the  blood  of  a  dragon  was 
supposed  to  be,  its  imparting  to  the  skin,  which  was 
bathed  in  it,  perfect  impenetrability,  and  security 
from  the  usual  effects  of  any  weapon,  by  giving  it 
a  kind  of  horny  consistence.  Siegfried,  a  very  ce- 
lebrated hero  of  German  romance,  thus  obtained 
the  same  quality  which  is  ascribed  to  Achilles  and 
Orlando.  Unfortunately  a  leaf  being  attached  to 
his  back,  the  part  covered  by  it  was  not  hardened 
by  the  property  of  the  blood,  and  in  this  part  he 
was  stabbed  by  his  treacherous  kinsmen  while  stoop- 
ing to  drink  the  water  of  a  rivulet.  From  his  im- 
penetrability he  obtained  the  epithet  of  hurnin  (t.  e. 
horny)  ;  but  the  ignorant  modern  printers  of  his 
prose  history  always  represent  him  in  the  wood  cuts 
with  two  horns,  though  the  text  gives  the  authen- 
tic reason  for  his  denomination.      In  one  of  the 

(«)  Head.       (b)  Strength. 


NOTES.  317 

German  romances  of  Troy,  by  Conrad  von  Wuerz- 
burg,  consisting  of  about  60,000  lines,  the  armour 
of  Peleus  is  said  to  have  been  hardened  and  render- 
ed impenetrable  in  the  fat  and  gall  of  a  dragon,  by 
u  a  smith  y-cleped  Vulcan." 

5684,  Paradys  terrene,"]  The  terrestrial  para- 
dise was  too  attractive  an  object  for  the  fancy  of 
the  writers  of  the  chivalrous  ages,  not  to  have 
tempted  them  to  give  splendid  descriptions  of  it.: 
Our  poet  has,  however,  strangely  contented  him- 
self with  merely  mentioning  its  situation,  though; 
in  some  of  the  foreign  romances  on  the  same  sub- 
ject, it  is  pourtrayed  at  large.  According  to  Man- 
deville,  it  is  situated  on  a  hill,  the  summit  of  which 
reaches  up  to  the  moon.  The  monks,  in  order  to 
make  their  pious  legends  equally  attractive  as  the 
tales  of  knights  and  ladies,  introduced  most  fasci- 
nating pictures  of  happiness  in  the  terrestrial  as  well 
as  the  celestial  paradise,  and  contrasted  them  with  a 
representation  of  the  torments  of  purgatory  and 
hell.  The  immortal  poem  of  Dante  was,  however, 
written  with  a  very  different  view ;  and  indeed  its 
excellencies  are  of  such  a  superlative  nature,  that 
they  cannot  be  mentioned,  when  the  pious  but  crab- 
bed compositions  of  monks  are  enumerated.  It 
may,  however,  be  observed,  as  an  instance  of  most 
unaccountable  neglect,  that  the  Divina  Comedia^  till 
very  modern  times,  has  never  been  translated  into 
any  other  language  ;  at  least,  not  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  editor.  At  the  same  time,  the  joys  of  hea- 
ven, and  the  torments  of  hell,  were  minutely  de- 
tailed in  various  old  monkish  legends.  One  of  the 
most  lively,  but  certainly  one  of  the  strangest,  is 
the  fabliau,  entitled  Le  Court  de  Paradis,  (Barba- 
zan's  Fabliaux,  edit.  1808,  III.  128.)  In  Eng- 
lish, the  longest  poem  of  the  kind  is  M  The  Legend 
flf  Tundale,"  and  the  most  poetical,  "  Sir  Owainc," 


318  NOTtiS. 

which  we  will  mention  immediately.  Among  the 
Royal  MSS.  in  the  British  Museum,  there  is  one 
which  contains  the  "  Reuelacion,  the  which  Wil- 
liam Staunton  saw  in  Patrike's  purgatorie,  the  Fri- 
day next  after  the  fest  of  the  exaltacion  of  the  Crosse, 
in  the  yere  of  owre  Lord  m,cccc,ix."  In  the  lat- 
ter part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  we  find  the 
same  passion  continue,  an  instance  of  which  is  "  The 
Dead  Man's  Song,"  printed  in  Ritson's  Ancient 
Songs,  p.  286  ;  and,  in  the  eighteenth  century,  we 
still  meet  with  similar  relations,  of  which  the  fol- 
lowing title  of  a  pamphlet,  printed  in  1709,  may 
serve  as  a  proof:  u  The  London  Wonder,  or  the 
Maiden  Trance  ;  being  a  strange  and  true  relation 
of  one  Sarah  Barker,  near  the  Royal  Exchange,  of 
16  years  of  age  ;  who,  on  the  31st  of  July  last  (be- 
ing in  perfect  health),  fell  into  a  deep  trance,  and 
lay  as  dead  for  three  days  and  nights  together  ; 
when,  as  they  were  going  to  bury  her,  she  came  to 
life  again,  to  the  amazement  of  all  that  saw  her; 
and  declared  what  strange  things  she  had  seen  in  the 
other  world,  as  the  joys  of  heaven,  and  the  dismal 
terrors  of  hell ;  and  how  an  angel,  all  in  white,  told 
her  what  should  happen  in  England  and  France  be- 
twixt this  and  December  next ;  and  it  would  as  sure- 
ly come  to  pass  as  she  should  die  three  days  after, 
which  happened  accordingly  :  With  her  last  prayer, 
written  by  her  own  hand  a  little  before  she  died, 
which  she  left  as  a  legacy  to  all  young  persons  of 
both  sexes,  to  put  them  in  mind  of  mortality. — ■ 
London,  printed  for  Thomas  Wells,  in  Holbourn, 
1709." 

The  wonderful  purgatory  of  St  Patrick,  the  ori- 
ginal establishment  of  which  was  even  dramatized  in 
the  seventeenth  century  by  Calderon  in  Spain,  and 
Shirley  in  England,  undoubtedly  contributed  to  the 
origin  and  continuation  of  this  attachment  to  thes# 


Notes.  319 

wonderful  relations.  The  legend  of  Tundale  is  pre- 
served in  MS.  Jac.  V.  27,  in  the  Advocate's  Libra- 
ry ;  and  Calig.  A.  12,  in  the  Cotton  Library.  Sir 
Owaine's  visions  also  occur  in  the  latter  MS.  ;  and 
in  the  celebrated  Auchinleck  MS.  is  another  very 
different  copy.  Tundale  seems  to  be  later,  and  con- 
tains nearly  the  same  descriptions  of  pains  and  de- 
lights as  Owaine  dilated  into  a  much  longer  poem. 
The  gate  of  the  terrestrial  paradise  is  thus  described 
in  Sir  Owaine,  perfectly  in  the  oriental  style  of 
magnificence : 

Forther  more  he  gan  y-se 
A  gate,  non  fairer  might  be 

In  this  world  y-wrought. 
Tie  no  steel  (a)  n'as  theron  nou, 
Bot  rede  gold  and  precious  stou, 

And  all  God  made  of  nought, 

jaspers,  topas  and  cristal, 
Margarites  (b)  and  coral, 

And  riche  safer  (c)  stones, 
Ribes  and  salidoines, 
Onicles  and  causteloines, 

And  diamaunce  for  the  nones : 

In  tabernacles  they  wer  y-wrought, 
Richer  might  it  be  nought, 

With  pilers  gent  and  smal ; 
Arches  y-bent,  with  charbukel  ston, 
Knottes  of  rede  gold  theropon, 

And  pinacles  of  cristal. 

Be  as  miche  as  our  Saueour 

Is  quainter  than  goldsmithe  or  paintour, 

That  woneth  in  ani  lond, 
So  far  the  gates  of  paradis 
Er  richer  y-wrought,  forsothe  Y  wis, 

As  ye  may  vnderstond. 

Want  of  room  prevents  our  proceeding  further 
than  the  gates,  but  the  description  of  the  paradise 

(a)  Wood  or  steel.  (b)  Pearls.  (c)  Sapphire. 


320'  NOTES. 

itself  is  no  less  splendid.  The  four  rivers  which  is- 
sue from  paradise  we  will,  however,  enumerate  here, 
as  they  are  alluded  to  in  the  text : 

Dison  men  rlepeth  that  o  strem, 
That  is  of  swithe  bright  lem*  ; 

Gold  is  therin  y-founde. 
Kison  men  clepeth  that  other,  Y  wis, 
That  is  of  miche  more  priis 

Of  stones  in  the  grounde. 

The  thridde  strem  is  Eufrates, 
For  sothe  to  telle,  withonten  les, 

That  rinneth  swithe  right. 
The  ferte  strem  is  Tigris, 
In  the  world  'is  like  n'is 

Of  stones  swithe  bright. 

5772,  In  the  water  hy  swimme  and  ijede."]  The 
game  people  are  described  by  Mandeville,  as  inha- 
biting the  island  of  Ermes.  In  the  same  island,  he 
relates,  u  be  thescheppes  wythoutten  naylis  of  yren 
or  bondes  of  yren,  for  rockes  of  adamantes  that  be 
in  the  see  that  will  drawe  schepis  to  hem."  Similar 
mountains  occur  in  the  story  of  the  Third  Calender 
in  the  Arabian  Nights,  in  the  Legend  of  St  Bran- 
danus,  and  in  the  Latin  and  German  romances  of 
Duke  Ernest  of  Bavaria. 

5890,  Maitgre  Picard  and  Bretoun.~]  This 
seems  to  have  been  a  proverbial  expression,  origi- 
nally occasioned  by  the  English  wars  in  France. 

5916,  Bramande.~\  The  inhabitants  of  tiiis  island 
are  evidently  the  Bramins  of  the  East  Indies.  They 
are  the  only  people  mentioned  in  the  English  ro- 
mance, which  in  any  way  suit  the  description  of 
the  Gymnosophists.  Alexander's  adventures  with 
these,  as  has  been  mentioned  in  the  introduction, 
are  the  subject  of  a  very  obscure  alliterative  poem 
in  the  Bodleian  Library,  beginning  thus  : 

*  Brightness,  light. — Sax. 


NOTES.  821 

Whan  this  weith  at  his  wil  wedering  hadde, 
Ful  rathe  rommede  he  ryding  the  dirce. 
To  Oridrace  with  his  ost  Alixandre  wendes, 
There  wild  contre  was  wist  and  wondurful  peple, 
That  weren  proued  ful  proude  and  prys  of  hem  helde. 
Of  bodi  went  thei  bar,  without  any  wede, 
And  hadde  graue  on  the  grounde  many  grete  caivys; 
Ther  her  wonnynge  was  wyntyrus  and  somerus. 
Nor  fyre  nor  no  fur-stede  sothli  thei  ne  hadde, 
But  bolus  holwe  in  the  grounde  to  hide  hem  inne. 

5968,  Gog — Magog.~]  The  fables  related  of  these 
nations,  and  of  their  seclusion  from  the  rest  of  the 
world,  by  means  of  a  wall  built  by  Alexander*, 
which  are  recounted  in  this  romance,  are  so  extraor- 
dinary, that  the  reader  is  here  presented  with  some 
other  accounts  of  the  same  tradition.  The  follow- 
ing is  part  of  the  eighteenth  chapter  of  the  Koran, 
entitled  u  The  Cave,"  where  Mahomet  incorporates 
into  the  creed  of  his  followers,  these  tales,  which 
were  probably  much  more  ancient  than  the  period 
in  which  he  lived.  It  should  be  premised,  that 
Dhu'lkarnein,  i.  e.  the  two-horned,  though  gene- 
rally said  to  mean  Alexander  the  Great,  is,  by  other 
commentators,  pronounced  to  have  been  another 
great  conqueror,  who  was  a  king  of  Persia  of  the 
first  race,  and  contemporary  with  Abraham.  "  The 
Jews  will  ask  thee  concerning  Dhu'lkarnein.  An- 
swer, I  will  rehearse  unto  you  an  account  of  him. 
We  made  him  powerful  in  the  earth,  and  we  gave 
him  means  to  accomplish  every  thing  he  pleased. 
And  he  followed  his  way,  until  he  came  to  the 
place  where  the  sun  setteth ;  and  he  found  it  to  set 
in  a  spring  of  black  mud :  and  he  found  near  the 

*  The  wall  certainly  existed,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  extract 
from  Warton,  quoted  at  the  end  of  this  note,  and  was  proba- 
bly built  to  preserve  the  northern  provinces  of  Persia  from 
the  incursions  of  the  Scythians,  called,  by  the  Orientals,  the 
people  of  Jagiouge  and  Magiouge. 

VOL.  III.  X 


322  NOTES. 

same  a  certain  people.  And  we  said,  O  Dhu'lkar- 
nein !  either  punish  this  people,  or  use  gentleness 
towards  them.  He  answered.  Whosoever  of  them 
shall  commit  injustice,  we  will  surely  punish  him 
in  this  world  ;  afterwards  shall  he  return  unto  his 
Lord,  and  he  shall  punish  him  with  a  severe  pu- 
nishment. But  whosoever  believeth,  and  doth  that 
which  is  right,  shall  receive  the  most  excellent  re- 
ward, and  we  will  give  him  in  command  that  which 
is  easy.  Then  he  continued  his  way,  and  he  came 
to  the  place  where  the  sun  riseth ;  and  he  found  it 
to  rise  on  certain  people,  unto  whom  we  had  not 
given  any  thing  wherewith  to  shelter  themselves*. 
Thus  it  was  ;  and  we  comprehended  with  our  know- 
ledge the  forces  which  were  with  him.  And  he  pro- 
secuted his  journey  from  south  to  north,  until  he 
came  between  the  two  mountains,  beneath  which  he 
found  certain  people,  who  could  scarce  understand 
what  was  said.  And  they  said,  O  Dhu'lkarnein  ! 
verily,  Gog  and  Magog  waste  the  land  ;  shall  we 
therefore  pay  thee  tribute,  on  condition  that  thou 
shalt  build  a  rampart  between  us  and  them  ?  He 
answered,  The  power  wherewith  my  Lord  hath 
strengthened  me,  is  better  than  your  tribute :  but 
assist  me  strenuously,  and  I  will  set  a  strong  wall 
between  you  and  them.  Bring  me  iron  in  large 
pieces,  until  it  fill  up  the  space  between  the  two 
sides  of  these  mountains.  And  he  said  to  the  work- 
men, Blow  with  your  bellows,  until  it  make  the 
iron  red-hot  as  fire.  And  he  said  further,  Bring 
me  molten  brass,  that  I  may  pour  upon  it.  Where- 
fore, when  this  wall  was  finished,  Gog  and  Magog 
could  not  scale  it,  neither  could  they  dig  through 
it.     And  Dhu'lkarnein  said,   This  is  a  mercy  from 

*  Evidently  the  Bramans  of  the  romance,  and  probably  the 
Troglodytes  of  antiquity. 


NOTES.  323 

my  Lord ;  but  when  the  prediction  of  my  Lord  shall 
come  to  be  fulfilled,  he  shall  reduce  the  wall  to 
dust ;  and  the  prediction  of  my  Lord  is  true.  On 
that  day  we  will  suffer  some  of  them  to  press  tu- 
multously like  waves  on  others  ;  and  the  trumpet 
shall  be  sounded,  and  we  will  gather  them  in  a  body 
together.  And  we  will  set  hell  on  that  day  before 
the  unbelievers  ;  whose  eyes  have  been  veiled  from 
my  remembrance,  and  who  could  not  hear  my  word." 
— Sale's  Koran,  Lond.  1807-8.  ii.  104. 

The  following  is  the  account  of  the  same  nations 
and  their  imprisonment  in  Sir  John  Mandeville's 
travels  ;  u  Among  thes  hilles  that  be  there,  be  the 
Jews  of  the  ix.  kyndes  enclosed,  that  men  call  Gog 
and  Magog,  and  they  may  not  come  out  on  no  syde. 
Here  were  enclosyd  xxii.  kynges  *  with  her  folke 
that  dwell  yd  ther  before,  and  bet  wen  the  hilles  of 
Sichy  and  the  kingdom  of  Alisaundir.  He  droffe 
hem  theder  among  thes  hillis,  for  he  trowed  for  to 
haue  enclosyd  hem  there  thourgh  strength  and  worck- 
yng  of  mannys  hond,  but  he  myght  not.  And  than 
he  prayed  God  that  he  wold  fullfill  that  he  had  be- 
gon,  and  God  hard  his  prayer  and  enclosyd  thes 
hillis  togedyr,  so  that  the  Jews  dwell  there  as  they 
were  lokyd  and  speryd  +  inne  ;  and  there  be  hillis  all 
abowght  hem  but  on  on  syde.  Why  ne  go  they  not 
out  ?  seist  thou.  But  therto  I  aunsswer,  thou  yt 
be  soo  that  yt  be  callyd  a  cee,  yt  ys  a  stanke  stond- 
yng  among  hillis.  And  yt  ys  the  grettest  stanke  of 
all  the  world,  and  yf  they  went  ouer  the  see  they 
wot  not  where  to  aryve,  for  they  wot  not  to  speke 
but  her  owne  langage ;  and  ye  shall  [knowe]  that 
the  Jues  haue  no  lond  of  her  owne  in  all  the  worlde 
but  they  that  dwellen  in  tho  hillis,  and  yet  they 

*  So  in  the  Romance,  line  6136,  "  two  and  twenty  kynges 
flam  Gog." 

t  Sparred)  i,  a,  shut  up. 


D(24  NOTES. 

bere  tribute  to  the  quene  of  Ermony.  And  som- 
tyme  yt  ys  soo  that  some  Jewes  gon  on  the  hill,  but 
they  may  not  passe,  for  thes  hillis  be  so  heigh ;  ne- 
verthelasse  men  seye  of  that  cuntre  therbye,  that  in 
the  tyme  of  Antecriste  they  shall  comon  out  and  do 
mochyll  harme  to  Cristenmen.  And  therefore  all 
the  Jewes  that  dwellcn  in  dyvers  partise  of  the  world 
lern  to  speke  Ebrewe,  for  they  trowe  that  dwell 
amonge  thes  hillis  schall  com  out  and  they  speke 
Ebrewe  and  not  ellis.  And  in  tyme  of  Antecriste 
shall  thyse  Jewes  comen  out  and  speke  Ebrewe, 
and  leden  other  Jewes  into  Cristendom  for  to  dys- 
stroye  Cristenmen ;  for  they  wotte  be  her  pro- 
phecies that  they  schall  com  out  of  Cristenmen, 
schall  be  in  her  subieccion,  as  they  be  nowe  vn- 
der  Crystenmen.  An  yf  ye  will  wit  howe  they 
schall  com  and  fynd  passage  out,  as  I  have  hard 
saye,  I  schall  tell  you.  At  the  comyng  of  Antecrist, 
a  fox  schall  com  and  make  his  den  in  the  sam  place 
where  that  Kyng  Alysaunder  ded  make  the  gattes, 
and  schall  travaile  so  on  the  erth  and  perce  yt 
thorowe  till  that  he  com  among  the  Jewes  ;  and 
whan  they  see  thys  foxe,  they  schall  have  gret  mar- 
well  of  hym,  for  they  seye  neuer  such  maner  of 
bestes,  for  othyr  bestes  they  have  amonge  hem 
many,  but  non  such ;  and  they  schall  chase  the  fox, 
and  pursue  hym  till  he  be  flede  agen  to  the  hole 
ther  he  came  out  of;  and  than  schall  they  grave  af- 
ter hem  ty  11  the  tyme  they  com  to  the  yates  that 
Kyng  Alysaundyr  dydc  make  of  gret  stonys  will 
dight  with  symend  ;  and  they  schall  brck  thes  yates, 
and  so  schall  they  fynd  issue." 

In  the  Pecorone  of  Scr  Giovanni  Fiorentino,  there 
is  a  novel  pointed  out  to  me  by  a  correspondent, 
which  relates  the  same  event  (Giornata  xx.  Nov.  1.) 
with  some  singular  variations.  Alexander  inclo- 
sed the  ten  tribes  of  Israel  in  the  mountains  of  Go£ 


NOTES.  325 

and  Magog.  In  order  to  keep  them  in  subjection, 
he  fixed  a  number  of  trumpets  on  the  tops  of  the 
mountains,  so  cunningly  framed,  that  they  resound- 
ed with  every  breeze.  In  the  course  of  time  certain 
birds  built  their  nests  in  the  mouths  of  the  trumpets 
and  stopped  them  up,  so  that  the  clangour  gradual- 
ly lessened.  And  when  the  trumpets  were  quite  si- 
lent, the  Jews  ventured  to  climb  over  the  mountains, 
and  sallied  forth.  Their  seclusion,  it  seems,  had  con- 
verted them  into  the  Tartar  nations.  And  the  great 
Cham  of  Tartary  to  this  very  day  wears  a  feather  in 
his  cap,  as  a  memorial  of  the  signal  services  which 
the  birds  had  rendered  his  forefathers. 

The  same  fable  is  mentioned  in  the  German  ro- 
mance of  Titurel,  or  the  Guardians  of  the  Graal,  by 
Wolfram  von  Eschenback,  a  poet  who  flourished 
about  1220.  The  people  inclosed  are  named  the 
red  Jews,  and  the  height  of  the  mountains  which 
confine  them,  is  said  to  equal  that  of  the  rainbow. 
And  in  the  German  tale  of  Apollonius  of  Tyre, 
mentioned  before,  the  nations  of  Gog,  Magog,  and 
Kolck  (probably  Colchis),  are  described  at  great 
length.  Their  length  is  said  to  be  nine  feet,  six  of 
which  are  appropriated  to  the  legs,  and  three  to  the 
arms  ;  they  have  canine  faces,  and  are  clad  in  skins 
of  lions.  Their  food  is  the  flesh  of  wolves,  dogs, 
and  men,  and  their  drink  the  milk  of  mares.  Their 
armour  is  described  to  be  of  horn,  and  their  bows 
three  ells  in  length.  Their  number  exceeds  one  hun- 
dred thousand.  Museum  fuer  Altdeutsche  Litera- 
tur,  Berlin,  1809,  p.  265. 

The  subsequent  history  of  this  extraordinary  wall 
is  thus  related  by  Warton,  (Hist.  Engl.  Poetry, 
Vol.  I.  Dissertation  i.  p.  14,  note  e.)  "  About  the 
year  808,  the  caliph  Al  Amin  having  heard  wonder- 
ful reports  concerning  this  wall  or  barrier,  sent  his 
interpreter,  Salam,  with  a  guard  of  fifty  men,  to  view 


326  NOTES. 

it.  After  a  dangerous  journey  of  near  two  months, 
Salam  and  his  party  arrived  in  a  desolated  country, 
where  they  beheld  the  ruins  of  many  cities  destroyed 
by  the  Jajiouge  and  Majiouge.  In  six  days  more 
they  reached  the  castles  near  the  mountain  Kokaiya, 
or  Caucasus.  This  mountain  is  inaccessibly  steep, 
perpetually  covered  with  snowr  and  thick  clouds, 
and  encompasses  the  country  of  the  Jajiouge  and 
Majiouge,  which  is  full  of  cultivated  fields  and  ci- 
ties. At  an  opening  of  this  mountain  the  fortress 
appears  :  and  travelling  forwards,  at  the  distance  of 
two  stages,  they  found  another  mountain,  with  a 
ditch  cut  through  it  one  hundred  and  fifty  cubits 
wide  ;  and  within  the  aperture  an  iron  gate  fifty  cu- 
bits high,  supported  by  vast  buttresses,  having  an 
iron  bulwark  crowned  with  iron  turrets,  reaching 
to  the  summit  of  the  mountain  itself,  which  is  too 
high  to  be  seen.  The  valves,  lintels,  threshold, 
lock  and  key,  are  all  represented  as  of  proportion- 
able magnitude.  The  governor  of  the  castle,  above 
mentioned,  once  in  every  week,  mounted  on  horse- 
back ,  with  ten  others  on  horseback,  comes  to  this  gate, 
and  striking  it  three  times  with  a  hammer,  weighing 
five  pounds,  and  then  listening,  hears  a  murmuring 
noise  from  within.  This  noise  is  supposed  to  pro- 
ceed from  the  Jagiouge  and  Majiouge  confined  there. 
Salam  was  told  that  they  often  appeared  on  the  bat- 
tlements of  the  bulwark.  He  returned,  after  passing 
twenty-eight  months  on  this  extraordinary  expedi- 
tion. Pliny,  speaking  of  the  Portae  Caucasia?,  men- 
tions, *  ingens  naturae  opus,  montibus  interruptis 
Tepente,  ubi  fores  obditae  ferratis  trabibus,'  &c. 
Nat.  Hist.  lib.  vi.  c.  2.  Czar  Peter  the  first,  in 
his  expedition  to  Persia,  had  the  curiosity  to  survey 
the  ruins  of  this  wall :  and  some  leagues  within  the 
mountain,  he  found  a  skirt  of  it  which  seemed  en- 
tire, and  was  about  fifteen  feet  high.   In  some  other 


NOTES*  327 

parts  it  is  still  six  or  seven  feet  in  height.  It  seems 
at  first  sight  to  be  built  of  stone ;  but  it  consists  of 
petrified  earth,  sand  and  shells,  which  compose  a 
substance  of  great  solidity.  It  has  been  chiefly  de- 
stroyed by  the  neighbouring  inhabitants  for  the  sake 
of  the  materials ;  and  most  of  the  adjacent  towns 
and  villages  are  built  out  of  its  ruins.  This  work 
probably  preceded  the  time  of  Alexander  :  it  does 
not  appear,  from  the  course  of  his  victories,  that  he 
ever  came  near  the  Caspian  gates." 

6044,  #c]  Esclanomye  is  probably  Sclavonia ; 
the  Chichis,  the  Circassians,  or  more  probably  the 
Tschetsches,  a  nation  who  dwell  near  the  Caucasus. 

6200,  The  kyng  was  of  hardy  blood. 

With  heom  he  wente  undur  theJlod.~\ 

In  the  great  French,  and  most  of  the  other  fabu- 
lous lives  of  Alexander,  he  descends  into  the  sea,  in- 
closed in  a  vessel  of  glass,  merely  to  obtain  a  know- 
ledge of  fishes  and  other  marine  productions.  He 
also,  on  the  back  of  a  gryphon,  soars  through  the 
air,  but  unfortunately  descends  in  a  place  very  re- 
mote from  his  army,  which  he  rejoins  after  under- 
going great  difficulties  and  hardships. 

6266,  Durwes  the  leynthe  of  on  elne^\  z.  e.  dwarfs. 
This  is  the  second  nation  of  such  diminutive  men 
mentioned  in  the  text.     See  note  on  v.  4862. 

6311,  Garmacien.^  The  Garamantes,  of  whom 
Pliny  says,  "  matrimoniorum  exortes,  passim  cum 
feminis  degunt." 

6317,  Sorebotes.~\  Syrbotae.  Pliny  says  they 
were  eight  cubits  in  height. 

6319,  CenophalisJ\  The  Cynocephali ;  a  nation 
with  dogs'  heads,  whose  milk,  according  to  Pliny, 
furnished  other  nations  with  sustenance. — D. 

6325,  Azachos.~\  Asachae.  Pliny  says  they  lived 
by  hunting  elephants. 


3£8  NOTES. 

6334,  On  hond  they  creopeth  at  o  zzord,~\  i.  e.  to 
Alexander. 

6338,  SanbereisJ]  Pliny  mentions  the  Symbari 
and  Sambri  as  inhabitants  of  these  regions,  but  he 
does  not  ascribe  to  them  the  properties  here  given 
them. — D. 

6341,  MauritymyJ]  Probably  the  isles  of  Mau- 
ritania.— D. 

6357,  Agofagy.~]  u  Agriophagi  pantherarum  et 
leonum  carnibus  maxime  viventes."     Plin. 

6359,  Archapitis,~\  u  Arthabatitae  quadrupe- 
dum  ferarum  modo  vagi."     Plin. — D. 

6371,  CinomolgrisJ]  "  Cynomolgi,  caninis  ca- 
pitibus."     Plin. — D. 

6384,  Macropy.~\  The  Macrobii  of  Pliny,  Pom- 
ponius  Mela,  and  Herodotus. 

6387,  Christiante.~\  A  comical  anachronism. 
The  Ethiopians  were,  however,  Christians  in  our 
poet's  time. — D. 

6389,  Sibely  savageJ]  I  suspect  this  lady  to 
have  been  the  subject  of  a  formerly  celebrated  and 
popular  sign  called  the  u  Belle  Savage.''  The  Queen 
of  Sheba  was  certainly  as  well  chosen  on  this  occa- 
sion as  the  wise  men  of  the  East,  afterwards  meta- 
morphosed into  the  three  Kings  of  Cologne. — D. 

According  to  a  romance  or  legend,  printed  in  a 
collection,  1798  in  8vo,  in  the  old  Platt-Dutch 
tongue,  which  very  nearly  resembles  the  Anglo- 
Saxon,  the  following  is  said  to  have  been  the  man- 
ner in  which  the  valuable  reliqucs  of  the  three  kings 
were  brought  to  Milan,  from  whence,  in  the  12th 
century,  they  were  transferred  to  Cologne  by  the 
Emperor  Frederick  Barbarossa.  Enticia,  the  wife 
of  Zeno,  a  nobleman  of  Verona,  after  having  been 
long  barren,  was  delivered  of  a  boy,  who  was  con- 
veyed to  the  door  of  another  Zeno,  Archbishop  of 
Milan,  by  the  means  of  Satan  himself.     The  latter 


UOTES.  S29 

then  returned  and  occupied  the  empty  cradle.  Not- 
withstanding every  possible  care,  the  fictitious  child 
did  not  thrive.  Young  Zeno  was  sent,  by  the 
bishop,  to  the  high  school  of  Babylon ;  and,  in  his 
eighteenth  year,  was  well  versed  in  every  science 
excepting  magic,  to  study  which  he  repaired  to 
Spain  *,  where  he  became  a  perfect  necromancer  in 
the  space  of  three  years.  Upon  his  return,  his  ta- 
lents and  advancement  provoked  the  envy  of  a  noble- 
man, who  publicly  called  him  a  bastard.  The  youth 
immediately  determined  to  seek  out  his  father,  and 
at  last  discovered  him  very  poor,  having  wasted  his 
substance  to  preserve  the  sickly  changeling.  When 
the  real  son  appeared,  the  devil  endeavoured  to  es- 
cape, but  was  detained  and  inclosed  in  a  vial  by  the 
art  of  the  young  magician  +,  and  exhibited  to  the 
guests,  who,  probably  terrified  by  the  science  of  the 
youth,  immediately  restored  the  property  of  his  fa. 
ther.  Zeno  was  anxious  to  present  the  vial,  with  its 
contents,  to  the  archbishop,  as  a  fee  for  his  educa- 
tion, but  an  unfortunate  nurse  was  tempted  by  the  fair 
promises  of  Satan  to  draw  the  cork,  for  which  kind- 
ness the  monster  broke  her  neck.     The  devil  fled 

*  Toledo  is  mentioned  as  the  most  celebrated  school  of 
magic,  and  similar  sciences,  by  Pulci : 

"  Questa  citta  di  Tolleto  solea 
Tenere  studio  di  negroraanzia : 
Quivi  di  magica  arte  si  leggea 
Pubblicamente  e  di  pirornanzia; 
E  molti  geomanti  sempre  avea, 
E  sperimenti  assai  d'idrnmanzia, 
E  d'altie  false  opinion  di  sciocchi, 
Come  e  fatture  o  spe^so  batter  gli  occhi." 

Parnaso  Italiano,  IX.  144. 

+  This  will  remind  the  reader  of  Asmodeus  in  the  Diable 
Boiteux  of  Le  Sage,  and  of  the  devil  in  the  Diablo  Cojuelo  of 
Luis  de  Guevara,  the  prototype  of  the  former,  and  in  many 
respects  not  inferior  to  it. 


330  NOTES. 

io  the  east,  and  possessed  the  body  of  a  princess* ; 
he  was,  however,  so  imprudent,  in  a  confidential 
humour,  to  confess  that  Zeno,  and  he  alone,  could 
drive  him  out.  The  king  immediately  dispatched 
ambassadors  to  Verona,  and  the  magician  promised, 
within  thirty  days,  to  appear  in  the  presence  of  his 
majesty.  He  was,  however,  during  this  month, 
remarkably  busy,  and  did  not  recollect  his  promise 
till  the  last  evening.  Though  dissuaded  from  pro- 
ceeding on  his  journey  by  his  father,  he  went  out 
to  consult  the  stars,  and  at  the  door  found  a  horse, 
which  he  immediately  mounted,  having  put  the  vial 
for  inclosing  Satan  into  his  pocket.  The  horse 
proved  to  be  another  demon,  who  promised  to  show 
him  the  burial-place  of  the  three  kings,  upon  con- 
dition that  he  should  not  be  treated  in  the  manner 
his  companion  Satan  had  been.  The  paction  was 
concluded,  and  the  devil  performed  his  part  of  the 
promise.  Zeno  then  proceeded  to  the  court,  and, 
at  his  approach,  Satan  rapidly  left  the  body  of  the 
princess.  The  equestrian  devil  was  now  dismissed, 
and  proceeded  to  his  proper  place  of  residence,  and 
poor  Satan,  again  condemned  to  his  confinement, 
begged  him  not  to  mention  his  disgrace  and  ignomi- 
nious imprisonment  to  his  companions.  Zeno  now 
dug  up  the  coffins  of  the  three  kings,  and  convey- 
ed them  to  Milan.  The  vial,  with  its  infernal  in- 
habitant, he  presented  to  the  archbishop,  with 
whom  he  and  his  father  lived  the  rest  of  their  days. 
The  remainder  of  the  romance  contains  the  subse- 
quent history  of  the  relics,  and  their  final  quiet 
rest  in  the  cathedral  of  Cologne. 

6419,  No  nose.~]  lc  Fcruntcerteab  Oriente  parte 
intima  [iEthiopiae]  gentes  esse  sine  naribus,  aequali 
totius  oris  planitie."     Plin. — D. 

*  Here  again  we  have  part  of  Machiavelli's  celebrated  tale 
of  Belphegor. 


NOTES.  331 

6443,  Orisine."]  Pliny  has  exactly  described  these 
people  as  inhabiting  the  eastern  side  of  Ethiopia,  but 
has  not  mentioned  their  name,  so  that  our  author 
must  have  used  some  other  authority. — D. 

6457,  Auryalyn.~\  A  very  proper  name  for  these 
long-eared  gentry,  but  it  does  not  occur  in  Pliny. 
He  speaks  of  an  Indian  nation  whose  ears  covered 
their  whole  body. — D. 

6519,  A  best  y-cleped  Cessus.~]  This  is  the  Ce> 
phus  of  Pliny. — D. 

6539,  Monoceros.']  Pliny  has  given  a  similar  de- 
scription of  this  animal. 

6564,  Catathleba.~]     Catoblepa.     Plin. 

6573,  TigerJ]  An  evident  mistake,  probably 
of  the  poet,  for  Niger. — D. 

6763,  Trowes  twoJ]  These  wonderful  trees  are 
mentioned  in  the  following  manner  by  Mandeville  : 
u  And  beyond  that  ys  a  gret  wildyrnes.  As  men 
saye  there  ben  tres  of  the  sonne  and  the  mone,  that 
spake  to  Kynge  Alisaunderand  told  hymof  hys  deth. 
And  men  say  tho  that  kepe  tho  tres  and  eten  frewght 
of  hem  they  leve  CCCC.  or  Vc.  yere,  thorowe  the 
vertu  of  the  frewght.  And,"  continues  Sir  John, 
very  ingenuously,  u  we  wold  gladly  haue  gone  the- 
dyr,  but  an  C.  men  of  armis  schuld  not  haue  passyd 
that  wildyrness,  for  gret  plente  of  wyld  bestes,  as 
dragons  and  addars,  that  slen  men  oft  tymys." 
Oger  the  Dane  is  said  to  have  eaten  of  the  fruit,  and, 
in  consequence  of  it,  to  have  been  living  at  the  time 
his  fabulous  legend  was  written. 

6956,  The  trough  answerid  in  gret  yre.~\  Alex- 
ander's repeated  questions,  and  the  final  anger  of 
the  wondrous  tree,  bear  some  resemblance  to  the 
scene  in  Macbeth,  where  the  usurper,  after  repeat- 
ed questions  to  the  ghosts  conjured  up,  is  denied 
any  further  information  by  the  witches. 

7047,  Seresys.']     Is  not  this  the  name  which  the 


332  notes. 

ancients  are  supposed  to  have  given  to  the  Chinese, 
afterwards,  in  the  middle  ages,  called  Cathay  ?  At 
least  such  is  the  opinion  of  William  de  Rubriquis, 
a  traveller  of  the  13th  century. — D. 

The  description  of  these  people,  which  extends 
to  1.  7086,  suits  the  manners  of  the  Chinese,  in  many 
circumstances,  remarkably  well. 

7094,  Caies  and  mantecoresJ]  Cales  is  the  cale 
of  Pliny,  an  imaginary  animal,  described  as  a  com- 
pound of  the  elephant  and  boar.  The  manticore  is 
a  monster  having  three  rows  of  teeth,  with  the  face 
of  a  man  and  the  body  of  a  lion.  Pliny  and  Ges- 
ner. — D. 

7111,  Cadace."]  Probably  the  same  as  the  man- 
ticore described  in  the  preceding  note. 

7792,  Neubrok^]  i.  e.  Nimrod.  Amyramis, 
v.  7798,  is  Semiramis,  and  Aufriten,  v.  7803,  the 
Euphrates. 

7916,  &c]  Tebie,  Thebes;  Portyngale,  Por- 
tugal ;  Poyle,  Apulia  ;  Land  of  Laboure,  la  Terra 
di  Lavoro,  a  province  in  which  the  city  of  Naples 
is  situated ;  Sullye,  Syria  ;  Jafes,  Joppa ;  Escla- 
veyn,  Sclavonia  ;  Constantyn  theo  noble,  Constanti- 
nople ;  Caucas,  the  Caucasian  countries ;  Melo- 
nas,  Milano,  or  else  the  isle  of  Melos  (the  Bodl. 
MS.  reads  Malleus)  ;  Bandas  (Banasa,  Plin.  ?) ; 
Albyenne,  Albania ;  Armonye,  Armenia ;  Orcanye, 
Hircania. 

*#*  The  following  abstract  of  a  curious  German 
romance  is  here  inserted,  on  account  of  its  contain- 
ing descriptions  of  fabulous  nations  and  other  won- 
ders, several  of  which  also  occur  in  King  Alisaun^ 
der. 


NOTES.  333 


ABSTRACT 


OF 


DUKE  ERNEST  OF  BAVARIA, 


A  GERMAN  METRICAL  ROMANCE. 


BY  HENRY  VON  VELDECK. 


This  romance  is  the  work  of  Henry  von  VeU 
deck,  a  poet  of  the  twelfth  century.  This  date  is 
completely  ascertained  by  some  lines  in  his  iEneid3 
which  differs  widely  from  Virgil's  original,  and  was 
probably  translated  from  the  French.  In  these  lines 
he  mentions  that  he  completed  the  greater  part  of 
the  poem  in  1186  *.  He  died  soon  after  the  begin- 
ning of  the  following  century,  about  which  time 
his  contemporary  Wolfram  von  Eschenbach  bewail- 
ed his  death.     Both  the  iEneis  and  the  present  poem 

*  The  poet  also  refers  to  the  solemnity  of  knighting  two 
sons  of  the  Emperor  Frederic  Barbarossa  at  Mentz,  which  he 
had  witnessed  himself  (v.  13020-13051.)  This  corroborates 
the  date  of  the  poem,  were  any  such  corroboration  necessaiy. 
Veldeck  says  that  many  thousand  marks  were  spent  at  the 
feast.  Guiot  de  Provins,  the  French  satirist  (v.  278.),  speaks 
of  the  splendour  exhibited  there  as  matchless ; 

"  De  PEmpereor  Ferri 

Vos  puis  bien  dire  que  je  vi 
Qu'il  tient  cort  a  Maience  ; 
Ice  vos  di-je  sanz  doutance. 
C'onques  sa  pareille  ne  fn." 


334  NOTES. 

are  written  in  a  strain  of  very  fluent  versification ; 
and  many  passages  exhibit  very  splendid  poetical 
talents.  The  former  is  printed  in  Miller's  Col- 
lection, and  the  latter  in  the  continuation  lately 
begun  by  Hagen  and  Buesching,  both  from  MSS. 
not  older  than  the  beginning  of  the  15th  centu- 
ry. 

The  story  of  Duke  Ernest  of  Bavaria  has  obtain- 
ed a  high  degree  of  popularity  in  Germany ;  but 
who  was  the  real  hero  has  not  been  absolutely  ascer- 
tained. Some  have  given  the  honour  to  Count  Er- 
nest, from  Bavaria,  who,  in  the  year  865,  was  de- 
clared guilty  of  treason,  together  with  the  Fran- 
conian  Count  Wernher.  Others,  with  still  less  pro- 
bability, have  fixed  upon  Henry  the  Lion,  the  cele- 
brated Duke  of  Brunswick,  who  flourished  in  the 
time  of  our  poet,  chiefly  on  account  of  the  similari- 
ty of  an  adventure  which  occurs  in  the  present  ro- 
mance to  one  narrated  in  his  own  fabulous  history. 
(See  a  subsequent  note.)  The  most  probable  con- 
jecture is,  that  Ernestus  II.  Duke  of  Bavaria,  whose 
mother  the  Emperor  Conrad  married,  and  against 
whom  he  several  times  revolted,  is  the  real  hero. 
He  died  in  1030,  and  was  buried  at  Rossthal,  near 
Nuremberg,  where  St  Irmegart  also  lies  interred. 
(See  the  end  of  the  Abstract.) 

There  is  a  Latin  poem  by  one  Odo,  written  at 
the  desire  of,  and  dedicated  to,  Albert,  Bishop  of 
Magdeburgh,  who  obtained  this  bishoprick  in  the 
year  1199.  The  German  poem  was  undoubted- 
ly written  before  this,  particularly  as  the  pedan- 
tic  parade  of  heathen  mythology  in  the  Latin  does 
not  occur  in  the  German.  The  former  contains 
about  4000  verses,  and  is  printed  in  Martine's  The- 
saurus Nov.  Anecdotor.  T.  III.  col.  307-76,  and 
is  there  entitled,  Ernestus,  seu  carmen  dc  varia 
Ernesti  Bavaria  Duels fortuna,  anctore  Odonc. 


NOTES.  335 

A  prose  narration  in  Latin  has  also  been  disco- 
vered in  a  MS.  of  the  15th  century,  which  may  pos- 
sibly be  older  than  either  of  the  poems.  In  the 
time  of  the  Mastersingers,  a  second  German  poem 
was  written  on  the  subject;  and,  at  the  present 
day,  a  prose  history  of  the  same  adventures  forms 
one  of  the  most  popular  books  among  the  common 
people. 

The  chief  curiosities  of  this  story  are  the  wonders 
and  the  adventures  among  fabulous  nations,  which 
have  obtained  such  great  popularity  in  all  ages  ;  wit- 
ness Herodotus,  Pomponius  Mela,  and  Pliny  among 
the  ancients,  from  whom  they  have  descended  into 
the  travels  of  Mandeville  and  others,  the  romances 
of  Alexander,  the  legend  of  St  Brandanus,  and  the 
poem,  which  is  here  given  in  abstract,  itself.  Some 
of  the  singular  coincidences  with  the  tales  of  Ara- 
bian authors  are  noticed  in  the  notes. 

The  length  of  the  lines  is  from  six  to  nine  syl- 
lables, which,  according  to  Jeroschin's  Prussian 
Chronicle,  written  in  the  beginning  of  the  14th  cen- 
tury, is  according  to  the  rules  of  art,  "  for  five 
syllables  are  too  short,  and  ten  too  long ;  the  ex- 
perienced poets  make  their  verses  vary  between  the 
two."  See  Koch's  Compendium  der  Literaturges~ 
chichte,  1795,  Vol.  II.  p.  209. 


DUKE  ERNEST. 


A   powerful  duke  of  Bavaria,  when  he  died, 
left  a  son,  named  Ernst  (Ernestus)  under  the  care 


33d  NOTES. 

of  his  Duchess  Adelheid,  a  lady  of  such  excellency, 
that  the  Roman  Emperor  Otho  was  anxious  to  re- 
place the  loss  of  his  first  wife  by  espousing  this  pa- 
ragon of  virtue.  He  therefore  sent  messengers  to 
propose  his  suit ;  and  by  the  advice  of  her  son,  who, 
in  the  mean  time,  was  grown  up,  and,  with  his 
friend  Wetzel,  had  made  a  chivalrous  expedition 
into  Greece,  she  accepted  the  match,  and,  with 
great  solemnities  was  crowned  empress.  At  her  in- 
stance, the  emperor  heaped  favours  upon  the  young 
Duke  of  Bavaria,  and  constituted  him  Grand  Jus- 
ticiary of  the  empire  (Reichs-Voigt),  which  office 
he  executed  to  the  satisfaction  of  all.  He  could  not, 
however,  conciliate  the  favour  of  the  Palsgrave 
Henry,  a  kinsman  of  the  emperor,  who,  actuated 
by  hatred  and  envy,  resolved  to  deprive  him  of  his 
honours,  and  accordingly  accused  him  of  treason. 
The  monarch  would  not  at  first  hearken  to  the  ac- 
cusation, but  the  accuser  having  suborned  other 
witnesses,  he  obtained  a  commission  to  proceed 
against  Ernst,  and  waste  his  territories  with  fire  and 
sword.  The  duke  happened  to  be  absent,  which 
enabled  his  enemy  to  make  great  depredations  in  his 
dominions,  and  to  besiege  his  town  of  Nurimberg. 
The  citizens,  in  their  distress,  sent  for  relief  to  their 
lord,  who  immediately  collected  his  friends  and  vas- 
sals, defeated  the  palsgrave  twice,  and  forced  him 
to  take  shelter  in  the  imperial  court  at  Spire.  Ernst, 
by  the  advice  of  Wetzel,  followed  him,  and,  leav- 
ing his  troops,  entered  the  town  with  his  friend. 
Without  ceremony  he  proceeded  to  the  presence- 
chamber,  where  he  found  the  emperor  in  consulta- 
tion with  his  rival.  The  former  fled,  upbraided  for 
his  cowardice  by  his  son-in-law,  and  the  latter  fell 
by  the  sword  of  Ernst,  who  immediately  left  the 
city  and  rejoined  his  army. 

The  Emperor  Otho  now  collected  his  troops,  and 

5 


NOTES.  337 

invaded  the  dominions  of  his  son-in-law,  taking  the 
town  of  Ratisbon,  and  wasting  the  whole  country. 
Ernest,  in  return,  attacked  and  pillaged  the  posses- 
sions of  his  adversaries.  But  at  length,  pitying  the 
distress  of  his  subjects,  he  resolved  to  take  the  cross, 
and  visit  the  sepulchre,  selecting  30  of  his  knights 
to  accompany  him.  Otho  hearing  this,  abstained 
from  further  hostility,  and  the  empress  secretly  sent 
500  marks  of  silver,  and  various  other  presents,  to 
her  son. 

Great  numbers  joined  in  the  pilgrimage,  and  Er- 
nest soon  had  collected  1000  men  in  his  suite.  With 
these  he  marched  through  Hungary,  where  he  was 
received  with  great  distinction,  and  accompanied  by 
the  royal  army  through  the  forests  of  Bulgaria.  At 
Constantinople  he  was  received  by  his  old  acquaint- 
ance the  emperor  with  transport.  He  detained  him 
six  weeks,  and,  at  his  departure,  furnished  him  with 
ships,  to  the  number  of  22,  and  with  provisions  for 
one  year. 

They  had  not  sailed  five  days,  when,  after  a  sud- 
den and  violent  heat,  a  great  storm  arose,  which 
sunk  twelve  ships,  and  completely  dispersed  the 
rest.  The  duke's  countrymen  were  all  in  his  own 
vessel,  which,  for  a  long  time,  was  driven  about  on 
the  waves.  At  last  they  espied  the  island  of  Crete, 
and  discovered  a  most  splendid  palace,  built  of 
marble,  with  statues,  and  haut-reliefs  of  gold  upon 
blue  lasure*  stone,  but  could  discover  no  living  crea- 
ture. Fearing  some  treachery,  they  armed  them- 
selves, and  proceeded  to  the  palace,  Wetzel  carry- 
ing the  sign  of  the  cross  before  them.  All  the  doors 
were  open  ;  they  entered  and  found  the  most  su- 
perb rooms  they  had  ever  beheld;  the  tables  cover- 
ed with  the  most  delicate  food,  and  in  the  greatest 

VOJ>.   III.  y 

r  Tn  the  Latin  poem,  fcser. 


338  NOTES. 

abundance ;  and  immense  treasures  of  gold  and  gems* 
Having  satisfied  their  hunger,  and  carried  provisions 
in  great  quantities  into  their  ship,  they  left  the  pa- 
lace, and  returned  to  the  vessel.     But  the  duke  and 
his  friend  Wetzel  could  not  subdue  their  curiosity  ; 
they  resolved  to  return,  and  if  possible  to  discover 
some  inhabitants.     Having  given  directions  to  their 
host  to  succour  them  in  any  distress,  they  again  en- 
tered the  wonderful  palace,  and,  wandering  through 
it,   discovered  apartments  more  splendid  than  they 
had  yet  seen.     Amongst  other  luxuries,  they  per- 
ceived a  bath,  which  they  were  tempted  to  use,  and 
afterwards  reposed  in  a  bed  of  the  greatest  magnifi- 
cence.    When  they  arose,  they  clad  themselves  in 
the  richest  garments,  which  hung  on  the  walls  in 
abundance,  and   put  on  their  armour  over  them*. 
Suddenly   they    heard    a    tremendous    noise,    and 
perceived  an  immense  host  of  wonderful  people,   in 
superb  apparel,  but  with  very  long  necks,  which, 
instead  of  ending  in  human  heads,  were  surmounted 
with  the  beaks  of  storks  t.     Wetzel  and  the  duke 
concealed  themselves,  and  soon  perceived  the  king 
of  the  stork-beaked  nation  entering  the  palace.    His 
majesty  was  dressed,  by  his  chamberlains,  in  most 
splendid  guise,  and  the  dinner  was  served  up,  which 
consisted  of  the  choicest  dainties.    The  servants  now 
entered  the  hall,  leading  a  beautiful  damsel  decked 
with  jewels,  but  the  picture  of  woe.     The  monarch 
had  taken  her  by  force  from   the  king  of  India, 

*  The  description  of  the  palace,  and  the  two  different  vi- 
«>its  of  the  duke,  to  the  arrival  of  the  owners,  occupy  above 
400  verses  ;  but,  though  somewhat  too  long,  it  is  by  no  means 
>i<  stitute  of  poetry,  and  reminds  us  of  many  parts  of  tiie  Ara- 
bian Nights,  particularly  of  the  uninhabited  city  in  the  story 
of  Zobeide. 

t  In  the  popular  storybook,  these  people  are  named  A 
grippines ;  in   the  Latin  poem,   Grippi ;    and  their  country 
Grippia. 


NOTES.  839 

whose  daughter  she  was,  and  whom  he  had  cruelly 
slaughtered.  She  was  placed  by  the  side  of  her 
monstrous  lover,  who  often  would  apply  his  horrid 
beak  to  her  ruby  lips,  and,  as  he  could  not  speak, 
accompany  his  caresses  with  the  cry  of  u  Muam," 
in  the  language  of  the  storks.  But  his  beloved 
shrunk  from  his  embraces,  tore  her  hair,  and  so 
loudly  complained  of  her  fate,  that  Ernest  coun- 
selled with  his  friend,  how  he  might  deliver  her  from 
such  an  unsightly  lover.  Wetzel,  however,  advised 
him  to  await  the  night ;  which  being  come,  the  dam- 
sel was  forced  into  the  bed  of  the  stork-headed 
king.  The  two  champions  burst  open  the  door, 
and  began  by  killing  the  chamberlain.  The  rest 
seeing  this,  and  suspecting  the  two  to  have  follow- 
ed them  from  India,  in  order  to  free  their  princess, 
pierced  the  lady  with  their  beaks  in  divers  places. 
The  duke,  enraged  at  this  cruelty,  killed  the  king, 
and  all  the  others  who  were  present,  but  one,  who3 
by  his  cries,  raised  the  whole  inhabitants  of  the  pa- 
lace. In  the  mean  time,  the  damsel  died  of  her 
wounds,  and  the  two  champions  were  assaulted  on 
all  sides  ;  but,  by  dint  of  their  swords,  they  gained 
the  outer-door,  which  was  strongly  barricadoed.  The 
tumult  at  length  was  heard  by  the  companions  of 
Ernest ;  they  issued  from  their  vessel,  and  came  to 
the  assistance  of  the  duke,  who,  perceiving  their 
approach,  burst  the  gate,  and  joined  them.  A  ge- 
neral slaughter  ensued,  500  of  the  pilgrims  being 
left  on  the  field.  The  remainder  gained  the  ship, 
and  set  sail. 

In  a  short  time,  they  discovered  in  the  distance  a 
black  mountain,  which  they  rejoiced  at,  in  the  hope 
of  speedily  arriving  at  Jerusalem.  But  the  mariner, 
mounting  the  mast,  exclaimed,  that  their  death  was 
inevitable,  for  they  were  within  reach  of  the  Mag- 


340  NOTES. 

netic  Mountain*,  which  attracted  every  ship,  in 
the  building  of  which  any  iron  had  been  used.  Ac- 
cordingly, they  soon  found  their  vessel  attract- 
ed, and  were  rapidly  thrown  against  the  rock. 
They  landed,  and,  to  their  great  terror,  found  the 
bones  of  many  men,  and  wrecks  of  vessels  in  great 
numbers.  The  companions  of  Ernest  died  daily, 
until  they  were  reduced  to  six,  besides  himself.  The 
dead  bodies  being  exposed,  were  carried  away  by 
griffons,  which  Wetzel  taking  notice  of,  and  having 
observed  some  skins  of  buffalos  in  one  of  the  hulks, 
formed  a  design  to  escape  from  that  perilous  situa- 
tion. He  caused  his  companions  to  sew  him  and 
the  duke,  clad  in  complete  armour,  into  one  of  these 
skins,  and  expose  them  to  the  birds :  A  method 
which  the  others  also  adopted,  with  the  exception 
of  one,  who  sewed  in  the  last  couple,  and  then  re- 
signed his  own  life,  as  he  could  not  do  the  same  of- 
fice to  himself.  The  griffon  appeared,  lifted  the 
duke  and  Wetzel  in  his  claws>  soared  aloft  with 
them,  and  deposited  them  safely  in  his  nest.  He 
then  again  flew  away,  and  left  them  to  clamber  down 
the  tree,  without  disturbing  the  young  griffons.  In 
this  manner,  the  other  four  knights  were  also  car- 
ried ashore,  and  joined  their  leader +. 

*  A  similar  mountain  of  adamant  occurs  in  the  story  of  the 
Third  Calender,  in  tiie  Arabian  Nights.  In  the  Legend  of  St 
Brandanus  a  magnetic  mountain  is  also  introduced. 

t  An  aeronautic  vovage  of  the  same  kind  was,  according 
to  his  romance,  performed  by  Henry  Ihe  Lion,  duke  of  Bruns- 
wick. Being  left  in  the  wilderness  with  a  single  companion 
without  food,  they  cast  lots  who  should  be  eat  up  by  the 
other.  The  lot  falling  upon  the  duke,  his  faithful  servant  re- 
fuses to  perform  the  stipulated  office,  but  sews  him  up  in  a 
bullock's  hide.  A  griffon  carries  him  off  to  his  nest,  from 
which  he  escapes  in  the  same  manner  as  Ernest  and  his  com- 
panions in  the  text.  There  is  no  ancient  MS.  of  his  romance, 
but  it  is  in  the  hands  of  the  vulgar,  and  very  popular  ;  con- 
sisting of  between  8  and  900  lines.     The  readers  of  Ihe  Ara- 


NOTES.  341 

After  they  had  wandered  a  long  time  along  a  great 
river,  they  discovered  that  it  entered  into  a  moun- 
tain. Ernestandhis  companions  constructed  a  float, 
on  which  they  committed  themselves  to  the  stream ; 
and  for  a  long  time  were  carried  through  the  cave. 
During  their  subterraneous  voyage,  they  discover- 
ed a  most  superb  carbuncle,  and  the  duke  struck 
it  out  of  the  rock*;  "  which  stone,"  says  the 
author,  6i  may  still  be  seen  in  the  crown  of  the 
emperors."  At  length  they  issued  from  the  cave, 
and  arrived  in  the  country  of  Arimaspy,  inha- 
bited by  a  people  who  have  only  one  eye  in  the 
forehead,  and  are  named  Cycropides  (Cyclops),  by 
whom  our  travellers  were  received  with  great  cour- 
tesy f.  Their  king  happening  to  assemble  his  vas- 
sals, the  host  of  the  travellers  took  them  to  court, 
where  they  were  received  as  valuable  curiosities,  and 
at  the  request  of  his  majesty,  presented  to  him.  They 
soon  had  an  opportunity  of  showing  their  gratitude 
for  their  good  reception.  The  kingdom  was  attack- 
ed by  a  formidable  nation,  called  Piatt- feet,  who, 
in  bad  weather,  used  their  foot  (for  they  only  had 

Man  Nights  will  immediately  recognize  the  similarity  of  these 
escapes  with  that  of  Smdbad  the  sailor,  in  his  second  voyage. 
In  tiie  Legend  of  St  Bratidarius,  mentioned  above,  the  dead 
bodies  are  carried  off  from  the  Magnetic  Mountain  by  grif- 
fons, as  in  the  text.  The  editors  of  the  Acta  Sanctorum  Maii, 
Tom.  III.  p.  599,  do  not  particularize  the  surprising  travels 
of  this  Irish  saint,  they,  as  weli  as  Vincent  de  Beauvais,  consi- 
dering them  too  absurd  even  for  their  collection. 

A  very  similar  adventure  occurs  in  the  sixth  voyage  of 
Sindbad  the  sailor. 

t  The  story  of  the  Cyclops,  in  the  Odyssey,  has  obtained 
universal  popularity.  Tnere  is  one  very  similar,  winch  forms 
the  principal  adventure  in  Sindbad's  third  voy.ige  ;  and  an- 
other, still  move  resembling  it,  occurs  in  the  LJahar  Danush, 
which  was,  however,  not  written  earlier  than  the  seventeenth 
century.  The  Arimaspi  are  mentioned  by  Herodotus  and 
Pomponius  Mela. 


342  NOTES. 

one)  as  a  kind  of  umbrella,  being  of  a  size  which 
iitted  it  exactly  for  such  an  office.  Ernest  and  his 
fellow  warriors,  at  the  head  of  Cycropides,  defeated 
them  entirely,  and  freed  Arimaspia  for  ever  from 
their  arrogant  inroads.  The  grateful  king  bestow- 
ed a  dukedom  upon  Ernest,  and  on  Wetzel  a  coun- 
ty. The  duke  resolved  to  serve  his  new  sovereign 
with  zeal,  and  attacked  and  defeated  another  trou- 
blesome nation,  whose  ears  were  large  enough  to 
supply  the  want  of  garments. 

After  this  second  battle,  he  was  informed  of  the 
existence  of  a  small  nation,  named  Picmey  (Pyg- 
mies), whom  he  resolved  to  visit.  Taking  sixty 
men  with  him,  he  waited  upon  their  sovereign,  who, 
as  well  as  his  subjects,  only  reached  to  the  knee  of 
the  European  hero.  He  requested  to  know  their 
manner  of  living,  and  was  told  that  they  Mrere  in 
continual  dread  of  a  large  sort  of  birds,  whose  eggs 
they  privately  stole  and  fed  upon ;  but  that  they 
were  obliged  to  hide  themselves  from  the  vengeance 
of  these  monsters  in  caves.  The  birds  were  quickly 
destroyed  by  the  swords  of  Ernest  and  his  troop, 
and  the  grateful  little  king  wished  to  resign  his 
crown  to  the  duke,  which  he  however  declined,  and 
returned  to  Arimaspia,  only  requesting  the  gift  of 
two  pygmies  for  his  own  use. 

That  kingdom,  however,  enjoyed  but  a  short  re- 
pose; for  the  gigantic  nation  of  Kananea*  required 
tribute  and  submission  from  the  Arimaspian  sove- 
reign, who  requested  Ernest's  advice,  and  by  him 
was  counselled  to  refuse.  The  giants  to  the  num- 
ber of  500  entered  the  country.  By  the  order  of 
Ernest  they  were  attacked  in  a  forest,  where  their 
tremendous  iron  maces  were  of  no  avail.     Their 

*  In  the  Latin  poem,  Cananai,  also  called  Macrobii  de 
stii-pe  Gygantum.  The  latter  are  mentioned  by  Herodotni 
and  Pomponius  Mela. 


NOTES.  343 

legs  were  cut  to  pieces  by  the  Cycropides,  so  that 
200  remained  upon  the  field,  and  the  rest  fled.  One, 
however,  stayed  behind,  and  attacked  Ernest.  Af- 
ter a  long  combat,  he  forced  him  to  become  his  pri- 
soner. He  was  only  fifteen  years  old  ;  but  Ernest 
scarcely  reached  to  the  knee  of  the  beardless  boy, 
when  he  stood  beside  him. 

The  duke  possessed,  at  the  sea-side,  a  castle,  where 
one  day  disporting  himself,  a  Moorish  ship  arrived, 
the  mariners  of  which  landed,  and  requested  his  fa- 
vour. He  bade  them  come  into  the  castle,  and  ask- 
ed them  whither  they  were  bound  ?  To  his  great 
joy  the  captain  informed  him,  that  he  was  sailing  to 
Jerusalem,  where  he  was  certain  of  selling  his  mer- 
chandize to  great  advantage ;  and,  at  the  same  time, 
related  the  bloody  wars  between  the  king  of  Baby- 
lon and  Ubian,  king  of  Jerusalem,  upon  whom  the 
former  wished  to  force  the  Mahometan  faith.  At 
that  time,  however,  a  temporary  truce  had  been  con- 
cluded. Ernest  immediately  persuaded  the  mariners 
to  take  him  and  his  suite  on  board.  They  set  sail 
after  he  had  dwelt  six  years  among  the  Cycropides, 
accompanied  by  his  two  chamberlains,  who  were  of 
that  nation.  When  the  king  perceived  his  depart- 
ure, he  bewailed  the  absence  of  his  guests,  w  ho  had 
done  him  such  service,  with  many  tears. 

They  soon  landed  near  Ubian,  the  residence  of 
the  Christian  king  of  that  name,  and  Ernest  enter- 
ed into  his  service  without  manifesting  his  quality. 
The  heathen  sovereigns  of  Babylon,  Damascus,  and 
Aleppo,  soon  appeared  in  the  field,  carrying  their 
deities,  Mahomet,  Apollo,  and  Terviand  (Trivi- 
gant,  Termagant),  before  them.  A  great  battle  en- 
sued, in  which  our  champions  chiefly  distinguished 
themselves  ;  Ernest  taking  prisoner  the  soldans  of 
Babylon  and  Damascus,  and  Wetzel  him  of  Aleppo. 
One  of  their  four  companions,  however,  was  killed. 


344  NOTES. 

The  captive  giant,   who  carried  the  banner  of  the 
Christians  in  one  hand,  and  his  mace  in  the  other, 
spread  desolation  in  the  infidel  camp.     The  victors 
returned  in  triumph,  and  the  heathen  princes  were, 
upon  hard  conditions,  released.     The  soldan  of  Ba- 
bylon was  anxious  to  retain  Ernest  in  his  service  ; 
but  he  pleaded  his  obligation   to  visit  the  holy  se- 
pulchre.    He  was,  however,  persuaded  to  visit  Ba- 
bylon, where  he  was  triumphantly   received;  aud 
from  whence,  after  some  time,   he  was  accompanied 
to  Jerusalem  by  four  heathen  princes.     At  this  ho- 
ly city  he  remained  a  whole  year,  continually  fight- 
ing and  defeating  the  Pagans,  so  that  his  fame  reach- 
ed Germany,  and  came  to  the  ears  of  the  emperor 
and  empress.     The  latter  continually  sounded  the 
praises  of  her  son  in  Otho's  ear,  and  secretly  sent  a 
message  to  Jerusalem  ;  in  consequence  of  which, 
the  heroes  immediately  proceeded  to    Acres,    and 
there  embarked.     After  a  prosperous  voyage,  they 
landed  at  Bare  (Verona),  where  the  two  Platt-feet 
died,  to  the  great  sorrow  of  their  master,     He  pro- 
ceeded  to   Babenberg   (now   Bamberg),   where  his 
mother  resided,  and  whither  the  emperor  that  night 
intended  to  come.     At  the  suggestion  of  the  queen, 
Ernest  entered  the  town  secretly,   and  proceeded  to 
the  cathedral.     After  the  service,  he  kneeled  before 
the  emperor,  and  requested  him  to  forgive  the  crimes 
he  had  committed  against  him.     Otho  not  knowing 
him,  granted  the  pardon  ;  and  though  he  afterwards 
repented  of  his  promise,  the  queen  and  the  courtiers 
would  not  allow  him   to  break  his   oath.     Ernest 
was  now  received  into  favour ;  his   dukedom,  and 
the  county  which  Wetzel  formerly  possessed,  were 
restored  to  them.     The  pigmies  and  the  long-cared 
man  were  presented  to   the  emperor,  as  well  as  the 
carbuncle  for  the  imperial  crown  ;  but  the  duke  re- 
tained the  giant,  and  baptized  him.     He  reigned  ma- 


NOTES.  345 

ny  years  in  peace,  and  was  buried  at  Rossfelt,  the 
place  where  St  Irmengard  lies  interred. 


SIR  CLEGES. 


V.  4,  Vter,"]  According  to  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth, 
aud  the  romance  of  Artour  and  Merlin,  Uter-Pen- 
dragoun  was  the  youngest  son  of  King  Constance. 
The  eldest  son,  Constantine,  preferred  a  monk's  life 
to  that  of  a  king,  and  was  hence  entitled  Le  Moine. 
Aurelius  Ambrosius,  and  his  brother  Uter,  inherited 
the  crown,  which,  however,  was  usurped  during 
their  minority  by  Yortigern.  For  the  further  histo- 
ry of  King  Uther,  I  refer  the  reader  to  Mr  Ellis's 
abstract  of  the  romance  of  Merlin.  {Spec,  of  Rom. 
I.  195,  et  seq.) 

7,  Sir  Cleges.~\  A  knight  of  this  name  is  men- 
tioned three  times  in  Malory's  Mortc  d* Arthur 
(Part  I.  chap.  96  ;  Part  III.  chap.  139  and  146)  ; 
but  none  of  his  deeds  are  recorded  which  could  lead 
us  to  decide  whether  he  was  the  hero  mentioned  in 
the  text.  He  is  not  enumerated  among  the  knights 
of  the  Round  Table  in  Leyland's  list,  printed  in  Ro- 
binson's Assertion  of  the  Life,  Actes,  and  Death  of 
Prince  Arthure,  Lond.  1582;  as  quoted  in  "  the 
British  Bibliographer,"  I.  116. 

378,  — — a  lady  gent 

Was  born  in  CornewayleJ] 

This  was  Igerna,  first  married  to  Gorlois,  duke 
of  Cornwall.  King  Uther  having  been  transformed 
by  Merlin  into  the  perfect  semblance  of  the  duke 
(who,  in  the  mean  time,  was  attacked,,  defeated,  and 
slain  by  the  king's  forces),  cohabited  with  her,  and 


346  NOTES. 

begot  the  renowned  Arthur  upon  her.  After  the 
news  of  her  husband's  death,  she  was  married  to 
Uther,  and  crowned  queen. 


LAI-LE-FREINE. 


V.  1 .]  It  is  a  singular  circumstance,  that  the  pro- 
logue, containing  the  first  twenty  lines,  is  also  pre- 
fixed, without  any  material  variation,  to  the  lay  of 
Sir  Orpheo,  printed  from  a  Harleian  MS.  in  the  se- 
cond volume  of  Ritson's  Metrical  Romances. 

132,  Constentine^]  i.  e.  Constantinople. 


NOTES. 


VOLUME  II. 
RICHARD  COER  DE  LION. 


V.  1 1,  Off  Rowelond,  and  of  Olyver, 
And  of  euery  doseper  ; 
Of  Alisander,  and  Charlemain, 
Off  Kyng  Arthor  and  off  Gawayn, — 
Off  Turpyn  and  of  Oder  Daneys  ; 
Off  Troye  men  reade  in  ryme, — 
Off  Ector  and  of  Achilles.'] 
We  ha\e  here  an  enumeration  of  some  of  the  most 
popular  romances  of  the  day,  which  certainly  all 
existed  at  the  time  in  a  metrical  form,  and  perhaps 
all  of  them  in  the  English  language.     They  may  be 
reduced  to  the  following  number,   several  heroes  of 
one  romance  being  mentioned:    1.  The  history  of 
Charlemagne,  of  Roland,  Oliver  and  the  other  douze 
pairs,  the   original  ground-work   of  which  is  the 
traditionary   history   of    the   Pseudo-Turpin,    but 
more  immediately  the  metrical  French  paraphrases. 
The  beginning  of  the  English  romance  is  contained 


34$  NOTES. 

in  the  Auchinleck  MS.  (fol.  263—267),  and  the 
continuation  is  attached  to  the  copy  of  Otuel,  in  a 
MS.  at  present  belonging  to  Sir  II.  Mildmay,  Bart. 

2.  The  romance  of  the  Infancy  of  Ogier  lc  Danois 
was  the  work  of  Adenez,  an  old  French  poet,  who 
flourished  about  1261  ;  and  who  was  besides  the  au- 
thor of  ClcomadcS)  Pepin  et  Berlhe,  Buevon  de  Com- 
marchiSy  Doolin  de  Mayencey  and  Maugis.  The 
Visions  d'Ogeir  le  Danois  au  Royaume  de  Faerie 
are  probably  a  separate  romance.  According  to  the 
practice  of  the  age^  the  adventures  of  Meuroin,  the 
son  of  Ogier,  were  celebrated   in   a   separate  gest. 

3.  The  romance  of  Arthur  and  Merlin,  of  which  an 
imperfect  copy,  containing  9652  lines,  occurs  in  the 
Auchinleck  MS.,  and  another  (whether  perfect  or 
not  I  am  not  able  to  say)  in  the  library  of  Bennet 
College,  Cambridge,  (No.  351.)  Fragments  are 
also  preserved  in  Lincoln's-Inn  Library  (No.  150, 
which  only  goes  as  far  as  line  1888  of  the  Auchin- 
leck copy),  and  in  Bishop  Percy's  folio.  4. 
Gawayn :  Undoubtedly  the  beautiful,  romance  of 
Twain  and  Gawain,  printed  in  Ritson's  collection, 
and  translated  from  Le  Chevalier  au  Lion^  by 
Chresticn  de  Troycs.  A  German  translation  by 
Hartmanvon  Aue,  who  flourished  about  the  time  of 
the  French  poet's  death  (which  happened  in  1191), 
is  printed  in  Miller's  Collection,  Vol.  II.  the  fable 
of  which  agrees  very  exactly  with  that  of  the  Eng- 
lish romance.  The  same  popular  tale  was  also  trans- 
lated into  the  Scandinavian.  5.  Alisander.  The 
romance  of  Kyng  Alisaunder,  printed  in  the  first 
volume  of  this  work,  is  evidently  the  one  alluded 
to.  See  the  Introduction.  6.  The  great  Roman 
de  Troye,  by  Benoit  de  Sainct  More,  together  with 
the  other  French  metrical  romances  upon  that  sub- 
ject, was  founded  upon  the  Trojan  story,  by  Guido 
tie  Colonna,  which  also   comprises  the  adventures  of 


NOTES.  349 

Hercules  and  Jason.  There  are  several  poems  upon 
the  subject  in  English  verse,  written  in  the  period 
of  metrical  romance,  one  of  them  professedly  by 
Lydgate,  another  probably  written  previous  to  the 
period  in  which  he  flourished,  also  attributed  to  that 
author  by  Warton,  but  erroneously.  There  occur 
also  metrical  romances  of  Troy  in  the  MS.  150.  in 
Lincoln'Srlnn  Library,  and  in  a  valuable  MS.  in  the 
possession  of  the  Marquis  of  Stafford,  the  contents 
of  which  are  enumerated  in  The  Illustrations  of 
Gower  and  Chaucer  by  my  friend  Mr  Todd.  The 
Scandinavians  have  a  Trojomanna  Saga,  and  the  Ger- 
mans possess  three  very  extensive  romances  upon  the 
subject,  written  in  the  thirteenth  century. 

21,  In  Frensshe  boohys  this  rym  is  wrought 9 
Lewede  menne  knowe  it  nought  ; 
Lewede  menne  cunne  French  non^ 
Among  an  hondryd  unnethis  on.~\ 

These  lines,  which  are  curious,  in  as  far  as  they 
throw  considerable  light  upon  the  gradual  pre  va- 
lency of  the  English  language,  and  the  disuse  of 
French  among  the  higher  classes  *,  receive  much 
illustration  from  the  beginning  of  the  Auchinleck 
copy  of  Arthour  and  Merlin,  in  which  the  follow- 
ing lines  occur  : 

"  Childer  that  ben  to  boke  y-set 
In  age  hem  is  raiche  to  bettj 
For  they  mo  witen  and  se 
Miche  of  Godes  priuete, 
Hem  to  kepe  and  to  ware 
Fram  shine  and  fram  care, 
And  wele  y-sen,  yif  thai  willen 
That  hem  ne  tharf  neuer  spillen ; 
Auauntages  thai  hauen  thare, 
Freynsch  and  Latin  euer  ay  whare. 

*  Lewede,  means  lay  persons  in  general,  in  contradistinc- 
tion to  laid,  i.  c.  the  clergy. 


330  NOTES. 

Of  Freynsch  no  Latin  n'il  Y  tel  more  ; 
Ac  on  I[n]glisch  ichil  tel  therfore. 
Right  is  that  I[n]glisch  vnderstond 
That  was  born  in  Inglond. 
Freynsche  vse  this  gentilraan, 
Ac  euerich  Inglisch  Inglisch  can : 
Mani  noble  ichaue  y-seighe 
That  no  Freynsche  couthe  say." 

The  romance  of  King  Richard  was,  in  all  proba- 
bility, posterior  to  that  from  which  these  lines  were 
quoted,  and,  consequently,  the  English  language 
had  made  still  further  inroads  upon  the  French  at 
the  time  it  was  translated. 

62,  All  it  was  whyt  of  huel-bone,~\  This  simile 
is  a  remarkably  common  one  in  the  romances,  but 
the  last  word  is  generally  spelt  u  whales-bone."  The 
allusion  is  very  evidently,  as  Mr  Ritson  observes, 
to  the  ivory  of  the  horn  or  tooth  of  the  narwhal, 
or  sea  unicorn,  which  seems  to  have  been  mistaken 
for  the  whale.  The  phrase  occurs  in  the  Earl  of 
Tolouse,  Sir  Eglamour,  Sir  Isembras,  in  Skelton, 
Spenser,  and  even  in  Shakespeare. 

229,  Out  of  the  rofes  sche  gan  her  dyghtJ]  The 
curious  and  romantic  fable  of  Richard  and  Casso- 
dorien,  here  introduced  into  the  history  of  Richard, 
has  already  received  such  complete  illustration  from 
the  pen  of  Mr  Ellis,  in  the  introduction  to  his  ele- 
gant precis  of  this  romance,  that  I  must  beg  leave 
to  quote  his  words  for  the  information  of  the  reader : 
**  The  most  curious  incident  in  this  fable  (of  Cas- 
sodorien,  and  her  marriage  to  King  Henry)  is  cer- 
tainly anterior  to  the  reign  of  Richard  II.  because 
it  is  preserved  in  the  Otia  Imperialia  of  Gervase  of 
Tilbury,  whence  it  is  quoted  by  Mr  Scott,  (Min- 
strelsy of  the  Border,  II.  119,  cd.  1810.)  It  is 
said  there,  that  '  the  lord  of  a  certain  castle,  called 
Epervcl,  having  observed  that  his  wife,  for  several 
years;  always  left  the  chapel  before  mass  was  con- 


NOTES.  351 

eluded,  once  ordered  his  guard  to  detain  her  by 
force.  The  consequence  was,  that  unable  to  sup- 
port the  elevation  of  the  host,  she  retreated  through 
the  air,  carrying  with  her  one  side  of  the  chapel.' 
The  passage  is  in  the  edition  of  the  Brunswick  His- 
torians, published  by  Leibnitz,  Hanov.  1707,  torn.  i. 
p.  978.  Fordun,  after  dwelling  on  the  atrocious 
profligacy  of  King  John,  applies  the  same  story  to 
one  of  that  prince's  female  ancestors.  He  says,  6  A 
certain  countess  of  Anjou,  from  whom  was  descend- 
ed Geoffrey  Plantagenet,  was  married  solely  on  ac- 
count of  her  uncommon  beauty.  She  seldom  went 
to  church,  and  even  then  avoided  staying  for  the 
celebration  of  the  holy  mysteries.  This  being  ob- 
served by  the  count  her  husband,  he  one  day  caus- 
ed her  to  be  held  by  four  of  his  guards  ;  but  she, 
abandoning  the  mantle  by  which  they  tried  to  de- 
tain her,  as  well  as  her  four  children,  two  of  whom 
she  had  covered  on  each  side  with  her  cloak,  sud- 
denly flew  through  the  window  of  the  church  before 
the  whole  congregation,  and  was  never  more  seen. 
Richard  I.  brother  of  John,  used  frequently  to  re- 
late this  anecdote  in  explanation  of  the  perverseness 
of  disposition  inherent  in  himself  and  all  his  bro- 
thers.'— Scotichron.  cur  a  Goodall^  I.  9. 

ic  The  certain  Countess  of  Anjou,  mentioned  by 
Fordun,  was  probably  the  celebrated  Bertrade  de 
Montfort,  whose  uncommon  beauty  recommended 
her  to  Fulk,  surnamed  Rechin,  Earl  of  Anjou, 
and  who,  for  the  same  reason,  was  again  carried 
off  and  married  by  Philip  I.  King  of  France.  Phi- 
lip being  excommunicated  on  her  account,  she  return- 
ed to  her  former  husband,  and  caused  his  son,  by  a 
former  wife,  to  be  murdered ;  but  being  again  re- 
ceived by  Philip,  over  whom  her  charms  had  pro- 
cured her  a  most  absolute  sway,  she  continued  to 
fill  the  throne  of  France  till  near  the  time  of  her 


352  NOTES. 

death.  It  would  not  be  surprising  if  a  woman  so 
envied  for  her  power,  so  odious  for  her  vices,  so 
long  the  object  of  papal  excommunication,  had 
been  made  the  heroine  of  many  such  tales  as  this  of 
Gervase  and  Fordun.  She  had,  by  her  husband 
Fulk  of  Anjou,  a  son  of  the  same  name ;  and  this 
son  married  Sibilla,  only  daughter  and  heiress  of 
the  Comte  du  Maine,  and  had  issue  four  sons ;  one 
of  whom  was  GeofFroi  le  Bel,  Earl  of  Anjou,  se- 
cond husband  of  the  Empress  Matilda,  and  father 
of  Henry  I.  Fordun's  authority,  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, is  not  worth  much,  where  the  character  of 
our  Norman  princes  is  concerned;  and  it  is  not  very 
probable  that  Richard  used  to  relate  the  anecdote 
attributed  to  him.  That  impetuosity  of  temper 
which  led  him  into  rebellion  against  his  father,  would 
rather  induce  him  to  glory  in  the  crime  than  to  ex- 
cuse it,  on  the  score  of  an  hereditary  disposition, 
derived  from  his  great-great-grandmother." — Speci- 
mens of  Met r.  Rom.  II.  176. 

Among  the  numerous  romances  mentioned  in  the 
Gomplaynt  of  Scotland,  the  loss  of  which  we  have 
to  regret,  is  one  of  cc  Ferrand  Earl  of  Flanders,  that 
married  the  devil,"  which  was  probably  founded  upon 
the  same,  or  at  least  a  similar  story.  And  Sir  Gow- 
t.hcr,  the  hero  of  a  romance  preserved  in  the  British 
Museum  (MS.  Reg.  17.  B.  43.),  and  in  the  Advo- 
cates' Library  (MS.  Fac.  V.  VII.  27.)  (the story  of 
which  is  exactly  the  same  with  that  of  the  more  recent 
and  popular  tale  of  Robert  the  Devil),  is  the  pro- 
duce of  a  similar  connection.  The  renowned  Mer- 
lin also  boasted  of  an  infernal  father. 

252,  At  Salybury  he  made  ajustynge.~\  Claren- 
don, near  Salisbury,  was  one  of  the  ancient  royal 
palaces.     (See  IVarton^  I.  153,  note  k) 

267,  Kyng  Rycliard ganhym  dysguyse.~\  It  was 
•very  fashionable  among   writers  of  romance  to  dta 


NOTES.  353 

guise  their  heroes,  on  the  different  days  of  justing, 
in  three  different  arrays.  Ipomydon,  as  well  as 
Richard,  justs  in  black,  red,  and  white  attire  on 
the  three  days  of  the  tournament.  See  Vol.  II. 
verse  643,  &c. 

621,  Brandts,"]  i.  e.  the  port  of  Brindisi  in  the 
kingdom  of  Naples. 

655,  A  goos  they  dyghte  to  her  dynere.]  As 
Mr  Ellis  observes,  the  story  of  this  unfortunate 
goose  is  alluded  to  in  the  poem  De  motibus  Siculis, 
et  rebus  inter  Henricum  VI.  et  Tancredum  gestis, 
written  in  the  12th  century,  by  Petrus  d'Ebulo,  in 
these  lines  : 

"  Caesaris,  ut  fugeret  leges,  tuus  Anglia  princeps, 
Turpis,  ad  obsequium  turpe,  minister  erat . 

Quid  prodest  versare  dapes  ?  servire  culinae  ? 
Omnia  quae  fiunt  Caesar  in  orbe  videt." 

See  another  quotation  from  an  ancient  chronicle, 
Specimens  of  Rom.  II.  191,  note. 

662,  A  mynstralle.]  It  is  a  curious  circumstance 
that  the  minstrel  is  a  female  in  the  Cotton  MS.,  and 
a  male  in  the  fragment  possessed  by  Mr  Douce. 
For  the  sake  of  uniformity,  the  latter  sex  has  been 
substituted  for  the  former,  line  665  and  675.  The 
passage  from  677  to  696  has  been  supplied  from  the 
latter  fragment. 

628,  kc.Fanagos,]  i.  e.  Famagusta;  Massedyne, 
probably  corrupted  from  Mesopotamia  (see  line 
5153,   5688);  Abedy,  Ebuda ;  Jaffe,  Joppa,  &c. 

771,  Seynt  Elyne.]  St  Helena,  the  Grecian  em- 
press, who  visited  the  holy  sepulchre,  and  recover- 
ed the  cross. 

1324,  Ostrych,]  i.  e.  Austria.  For  Assoyne 
we  should  probably  read  Sassoyne,  i.  e.  Saxony. 

1426,  Coiistanltn.~\     Constantinople. 

1557,  Capentras.~]    It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how 

VOL.   III.  7. 


354  NOTES. 

Richard  passed  through  a  town  in  the  south-west 
of  France,  on  his  march  from  Cologne  to  Mar- 
seilles. 

1660,  Messene.]     Messina. 

1675,  Poyle.~\     Apulia;  Cesyle,  Sicily. 

1704,  ifo/s.]  Possibly  a  corruption  of  Reggio. 
But  investigations  into  romance-geography  are  as 
uncertain  as  they  are  useless. 

1846,  Mate -Griff on. ~\  That  is,  the  daunter  or 
terror  of  the  Greeks.  Benedict,  abbot  of  Peter- 
borough, in  his  life  of  Richard  I.,  published  by 
Hearne,  says  that  Mate-gryfFon  was  a  strong  castle, 
erected  upon  a  hill  without  the  walls  of  Messina. 
Robert  de  Brunne  quotes  the  romance  when  he  de- 
scribes this  formidable  engine : 

The  romance  it  sais  Richard  did  make  a  pele  * 
On  kastelle  wise  all  wais  wrought  of  tre  ful  wele.— 

After  having  mentioned  that  it  was  employed  be- 
fore Messina,  he  says : 

His  pele  from  that  dai  forward  he  called  it  Mate-griffon. 

2108,  A  kniffe  after  Sir  Robert  he  threw.']  See 
the  note  on  line  1044  of  Kyng  Alisaunder,  p.  297. 

2142,   The  emperour  of  evil  trusle 

Carved  off  his  nose  by  the  grusleJ] 

u  Roger  de  Hoveden  almost  confirms  this  anec- 
dote : — He  says,  that  while  the  emperor  was  sitting 
at  dinner  together  with  his  barons,  one  of  them  ad- 
vised him,  in  the  name  of  all,  to  make  peace  with 
Richard.  Iratus  vero  Imperator  propter  hunc 
sermonem,  percussit  eum  cum  cultello  quem  tene- 
bat,  et  amputavit  nasum  ejus  qui  consilium  illud 
dederat.  Post  prandium,  ille  qui  percussus  fuerat, 
abiit  ad  regem  Angliaj  ctadha^sit  illi."  Ellis's  Spe- 
cimens, II.  213. 

*  A  pile,  a  house. 


NOTES.  355 

2199,  Let  him  make  an  ax  for  the  nones.']  This 
formidable  weapon  is  also  mentioned  by  Robert  de 
Brunne. 

2330,  Favel — Lyarde.~\  The  former  of  these  ce- 
lebrated horses  is  called  Phanuel  by  Robert  de 
Brunne.  The  latter  obtained  his  name  from  the  co- 
lour. Liar,  or  liard^  in  old  French,  signifies  black, 
brown,  and  greyish  brown.  In  the  following  pas- 
sage, in  an  old  Italian  didactic  poem,  horses  of  this 
colour,  liardo,  seem  to  have  been  in  particular  re- 
quest for  the  field. 

11  Fra  li  colori  il  liardo  pomato 

Ottien  la  palma,  e'l  baio  chiaro  e  scuro ; 
Di  rar  in  questi  s'inganna  il  soldato. 

Anchor  d'altro  mantel  bon  corsier  furo, 
Ma  questo  e'l  general  che  raai  non  falle, 
Chi  spende  in  tal  ha  il  suo  denar  securo,"  &c. 

Cornazano  de  re  Militaria,  Lib.  II.  cap.  i.  Edi- 
zione  Orthona  ad  mare,  1518,  sign.  F.  V.  vers. 

2521,  They  rowede  hardy  and  sunge  thertoo  : 
With  heuelow  and  rumbeloweJ\ 

This  is  perhaps  the  oldest  instance  iu  which  this 
popular  burthen,  which,  from  many  instances,  seems 
to  have  been  chiefly  used  in  sea  songs,  occurs.  See 
Mr  Ritson's  note  on  the  following  passage,  in  the 
Squyre  of  lowe  Degree.     (Romances,  III.  352.) 

Your  maryners  shall  synge  arowe 
Hey  how  and  nimby  lowe. 

2659,  Fyr  Gregeys.~\  (C  This  fyre  gregeys,  or 
Grecian  fire,  seems  to  be  a  composition  belonging 
to  the  Arabian  chemistry.  It  is  frequently  men- 
tioned by  the  Byzantine  historians,  and  was  very 
much  used  in  the  wars  of  the  middle  ages,  both  by 
sea  and  land.  It  was  a  sort  of  wild-fire,  said  to  be 
inextinguishable  in  water,  and  chiefly  used  for  burn- 
ing ships,  against  which  it  was  thrown  in  pots  or 


35(J  NOTES. 

phials  by  the  hand.     In  land  engagements,  it  seems 
to  have  been  discharged  by  machines  constructed  on 
purpose.     The  Oriental  Greeks  pretended  that  this 
artificial  fire  was  invented  by  Callinicus,  an  archi- 
tect of  Heliopolis,  under  Constantine,  and  that  Con- 
stantine  prohibited  them  from  communicating  the 
manner  of  making  it  to  any  foreign  people.    It  was, 
however,  in  common  use  among  the  nations  confe- 
derated with  the  Byzantines:  and  Anna  Comnena  has 
given  us  an  account  of  its  ingredients,  which  were 
bitumen,  sulphur,  and  oil."     Warton's  Hist.  Eng. 
P.  I.  157.     The  Grecian  fire  seems  to  have  been 
prepared  as  a  liquid,  as  it  was  usual  to  throw  pel- 
lets of  tow,  dipped  in  the  fire,  from  mortars. 

2640,  A  melle  he  hadde  of  gret  maystry.']  Ro- 
bert de  Brunne  copies  the  description  of  this  won- 
derful engine,  which,  to  our  cool  imaginations,  is 
more  ludicrous  than  terrible,  from  our  romancer  : 

Richard  als  suithe  did  raise  his  engyns, 

The  Inalis  wer  than  blythe,  Normans  and  Petevynes  : 

In  bargeis  and  gallis  he  set  mylnes  to  go, 

The  sailes,  as  men  sais,  sora  wer  blak  and  bio, 

Some  were  rede  and  grene,  the  wynde  about  them  blewc. 

3146,  A  toun  men  calles  Gage.~\  i.  e.  Gaza. 

3681,  Damas,']  i.  e.  Damascus  ;  the  lond  of  Ali- 
saundryc,  lower  Mgyyt,  where  the  town  of  Alex- 
andria is  situated;  grete  Greece,  Magna  Gratia,  or 
Naples. 

3910,  Henry  of  Champayne.']  Count  Henry  ot 
Champayne,  is  dignified  by  the  title  of  King  of 
Normandy,  in  the  fabliau  of  the  Norman  Bachelor. 
(See  Le  Grand's  and  Way's  Fabliaux.)  In  an  enu- 
meration of  past  worthies  which  occurs  in  the 
Bible  Guiot,  (v.  314  to  476)  he  is  mentioned  al- 
most immediately  after  King  Richard. 

Et  qui  refu  li  Roiz  Richarz, 
Qui  ne  fu  avers  ne  cscharz  ? 


NOTES.  357 

Et  qui  fu  Joffroi  de  Bretaigne, 

Et  li  Quens  Henris  de  Champaigne  ? 

Ce  fu  li  plus  saiges  dou  mons. 

4614,  Gyan,~\  i.  e.  Guienne. 

4949,  Gene,']  i.  e,  Genoa,  and  hence  (1.  5994,) 
Genayse,  Genoise. 

5490,  A  maytyr  negromacien 

That  conjuryd,  as  I  you  telle, 
Twoo  strong  fendes  off  the  eyr, 
In  lyknesse  of  twoo  stedes  feyr.~] 

The  following  novel,  which  is  literally  translated 
from  the  75th  of  the  Cento  Novelle  Antiche,  is  evi- 
dently founded  upon  the  same  tradition.  ' (  The  brave 
King  Richard  of  England,  passed  upon  a  time  over 
the  sea,  with  some  of  his  barons,  knights,  and  other 
valiant  men,  without  horses,  and  landed  in  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Sultan.  And  thus,  on  foot,  he  arrang- 
ed his  battle,  and  made  such  slaughter  among  the 
Saracens,  that  the  nurses  exclaimed  to  the  children 
when  they  cried  :  "  Behold  King  Richard ;"  he 
being  feared  as  much  as  death.  It  is  related,  that 
the  Soldan,  when  he  observed  the  flight  of  his 
people,  inquired  who  were  those  Christians,  who  de- 
stroyed so  many  of  his  people.  They  answered, 
that  it  was  King  Richard  alone  with  his  compa- 
nions, and  that  they  fought  on  foot.  6i  I  swear  to 
my  God,  said  the  Soldan,  such  a  noble  warrior  as 
King  Richard  should  not  fight  on  foot ;"  and  choos- 
ing a  noble  stede,  sent  it  unto  him.  But  Richard 
was  wary,  and  commanded  his  squire  to  mount  the 
horse  and  try  the  virtue  of  it.  The  horse  was  very 
powerful,  and  carried  the  squire,  who  could  not  re- 
strain it,  in  full  gallop  to  the  tent  of  the  Soldan, 
who  expected  King  Richard,  but  was  disappointed. 
This  shows,  that  no  man  ought  to  trust  an  enemy's 
flattering  offers." 

5546,  With  wax  he  stoppyd  hys  eres  thore.~]     A 


35$  NOTES. 

similar  expedient  was  adopted  by  Charlemagne,  if 
we  choose  to  believe  Turpin.  The  Saracens  had 
chosen  some  of  their  troops  that  were  most 

"  Gryslyche  of  chere  * 
With  her  they  war  behong 
And  berdys  swyde  long, 

And  hornys  on  honde  bare." 

Continuation  of  Otuel,  1.  40.  et  seq. 

These  horns  they  blew  when  they  approached  the 
Christian  cavalry,  and  the  noise,  together  with  their 
horrible  countenances,  caused  the  horses  to  fly  in 
all  directions.  On  the  morning,  however,  the  pru- 
dent emperor 

" bad  anon  ryght 

That  all  here  horsys  of  the  ost 
With  wex  to  stoppe  here  ere, 
That  they  myght  nought  y-here 

Her  noyse  ne  her  bost.'V- 1.  80-84. 

This  expedient,  and  placing  hoods  before  the 
horses  eyes,  answered  the  purpose  completely. 

5994,  Baseless  Perhaps  inhabitants  in  and 
about  the  city  of  Basle,  in  Switzerland.  The  Ba- 
syles  are,  however,  subsequently  (1.  6839)  men- 
tioned among  Saladin's  troops. 

5712,  Hys  crouper  heeng  all  full  of  belles.^  The 
fashion  of  affixing  small  bells  to  different  pieces  of 
the  furniture  of  the  horse,  was  become  so  universal, 
that  Vincent  de  Beauvais,  speaking  of  the  knights 
Templars,  and  their  gorgeous  horse  caparisons, 
says  they  have  et  in  pcctoralibus  campanulas  infixas 
magnum  emittentes  sonitum."  See  Chaucer's  Can- 
terbury Talcs,  I.  170  and  14800. 

6292,  Seynt  RichereJ]  There  were  several  saints 
of  this  name,  but  the  one  alluded  to  here  is  certain- 
ly w  S.  Richard,  king  and  confessour,  sonne  to 

*  Countenance. 


NOTES.  350 

Lotharius  king  of  Kent,  who,  for  the  love  of  Christ, 
taking  upon  him  a  long  peregrination,  went  to  Rome 
for  devotion  to  that  see,  and  in  his  way  homeward 
died  at  Lucca,  about  the  year  750." — English  Mar- 
tyr ologe,  1608. 

6659,  /  wole  reden  romaunces  non 
Off  Paris ,  ne  off  Ypomydone, 
Off  Alisaundre,  ne  Charlemagne , 
Off  Arthour,  ne  off  Sere  Gawain, 
Nor  off  Sere  Launcelot-the-Lake, 
Off  Beffs,  ne  Gy,  ne  Sere  Sidrake, 
Ne  off  Ury,  ne  off  Octavyan, 
Ne  off  Hector  3  the  strong  man, 
Ne  off  Jason,  neither  off  Hercules, 
Ne  off  Eneas,  neither  Achilles. ~\ 
Most  of  these  heroes  belong  to  romances  which 
we  have  already  enumerated,  when  speaking  of  the 
prologue  at  the  beginning  of  the  poem.     The  print- 
ed copy,  instead  of  "  Paris,"  reads  u  Pertonape ;" 
and  Mr  Warton  conjectured,  with  great  plausibili- 
ty, that  "  Pertonape  and  Ipomydon"  were  intend- 
ed for  Parthenopeus  and  Hippomedon,  two  Theban 
heroes.     Paris,  whose  name  occurs  in  the  MS.,  Hec- 
tor, Jason,  Achilles,  and  Hercules,  were  all  heroes 
of  the  Troy-book.     Ypomydon  most  probably  is 
the  hero  of  the  romance,  printed  in  the  second  vo- 
lume of  this  work ;  and  Octavian  undoubtedly  the 
"  Imperator  Octouian,"    whose  history   is  to  be 
found  in  this  volume.     The  romances  of  Bevis  and 
Guy  are  well  known;  as  is  also  Lancelot  du  Lake, 
though  none  but  the  adventures  of  his   latter  days 
remain  in  an  English  metrical  form.     (See  the  me- 
trical romance  of  Mort  Arthur,  analysed  by  Mr  El- 
lis, Vol.  II.  p.  308.) — Sidrake,  as  Mr  Warton  ob- 
serves,  "  is  rather  a  romance  of  Arabian  philoso- 
phy, than  of  chivalry.     It  is  a  system  of  natural 
knowledge,  and  particularly  treats  of  the  virtues  of 


360  NOTES. 

plants."  It  was  translated  into  English  verse  by 
Hu^h  Camnden,  a  MS.  of  which  translation  is  at 
Oxford  (MS.  Laud,  G.  57)  ;  and,  in  1510,  it  was 
printed  by  Thomas  Godfrey.— Ury,  as  Mr  Warton 
conjectures,  was  probably  King  Urien,  who,  in  the 
fabliau  of  the  Court  Mantell,  is  mentioned  as  the 
father  of  Sir  Ywaine.  From  the  romance  of  <  Ar- 
tour  and  Merlin,"  we  learn  that  Urien  was  king  of 
Goere  (line  3075),  or,  according  to  another  pas- 
sage (line  7515)  of  Schorham.* 

"  He  hadde  spoused  Hermesent, 

Blasine  suster  and  Belesent : 

Thai  hadde  a  yong  man  hem  bitven, 

Michel  Ywain  of  noble  stren  ; 

He  was  y-cleped  Michel  Ywain, 

For  he  hadde  a  brother  kuight  certein  ; 

Bast  Ywain\  he  was  y-hote, 

For  he  was  biyeten  o  bast,  God  it  wot." 

See  Mr  Ritson's  account  of  this  hero,  (Metr. 
Rom.  III.  225.)  The  romance  of  Ury,  if  it  ever 
existed  in  English,  seems  to  be  entirely  lost. 

6837,  &c]  The  Moryens  are  probably  the  Moors 
in  general ;  Moroc,  Morocco  ;  Asclamoyne,  Scla- 
vonia.  By  whom  the  Basyles  and  Ambosyens  are 
designed,  I  am  not  able  to  decypher. 

*  Geoffrey  of  Monmouth  says,  he  was  made  king  of  Mur- 
ray by  King  Arthur. 

t  i  e.  Bastard  Ywain.  Yuain  le  Auoutre  is  also  mention- 
ed in'Leyland's  list  of  the  knights  of  the  Round  Table,  quoted 
in  the  British  Bibliographer,  1. 116. 


NOTES  3di 


THE  LYFE  OF  IPOMYDON. 

52,  Tholomew  a  clerk  he  toke, 

That  taught  the  chyld  uppon  the  bokey 
Both  to  synge  and  to  read.~\ 
These  and  the  following  lines,  to  v.  66,  are  highly 
curious,  as  they  contain  the  complete  system  of  edu- 
cating a  young  man  of  rank  in  the  days  of  chivalry, 
which  comprehended  singing,  reading,  waiting  in  the 
hall,  carvyng,  hunting,  hawking,  and  horsemanship. 
Horn's  education  is  conducted  in  a  similar  manner. 
King  Aylmer  gives  the  following  instructions  to  the 
steward : 

"  Sliward  tac  thou  here 

My  fundling  for  to  lere 

Of  thine  mestere, 

Of  wode  and  of  ry  vere, 

Ant  toggen  o'  the  harpe, 

With  is  nayles  sharpe ; 

Ant  tech  him  alle  the  listes 

That  thou  ever  wystes 

Byfore  me  to  kerven, 

And  of  my  coupe  to  serven  ; 

Ant  his  feren  devyse 

With  ous  other  servise. 

Horn  child  thou  understand, 

Tech  him  of  harpe  and  of  song." 

Geste  of  Kyng  Horn*,  v.  23X 

*  The  prose  romance  of  "  Kyng  Ponthus  of  Galyce,"  ori- 
ginally French,  is  evidently  founded  on  the  tale  of  Child  Horn. 
The  two  romances  coincide  together  in  almost  every  instance. 
In  the  Bodleian  Library  is  a  MS.  of  the  English  Pontus,  appar- 
ently of  the  14th  century.  It  was  printed  in  1511,  in  quarto ; 
and  Mr  Ritson  has  made  two  quotations  from  this  copy 
(Metr.  Rom.  III.  238,  277),  but  does  not  mention  the  cir- 
cumstauce  of  the  story  being  founded  on  Kyng  Horn.  It  is  a 
singular  circumstance,  that  the  German  translation,  a  MS.  of 
which,  dated  1464,  is  preserved  in  the  library  of  Gotha,  was 


862  NOTES. 

It  is  curious  to  observe  the  gradual  refinement  in 
the  accomplishments,  which  in  different  ages,  were  re- 
quired of  a  knight.  Wolffdietrich,  one  of  the  he- 
roes of  the  Reldenbuch,  and  his  brothers,  are  in- 
structed, by  Duke  Bechtung  of  Meran  (a  town  in 
the  Tyrol),  in  the  different  qualifications  necessary 
to  form  a  complete  mirrour  of  knighthood.  They 
are  advised  to  honour  the  ladies,  to  increase  the  wor- 
ship of  God,  and  to  pay  respect  to  the  clergy : 
they  are  taught  the  sciences  of  defence,  leaping,  and 
archery  ;  to  sit  firm  upon  the  great  horse,  to  throw 
the  lance,  to  make  a  proper  use  of  the  shield  and 
helmet,  and  to  throw  the  stone.  The  accomplish- 
ments of  carving,  singing,  and  hunting  are  not 
enumerated,  which  may  be  accounted  for  on  the 
score  of  the  antiquity  of  the  poem,  and  the  inferior- 
ity of  the  German  knights,  in  point  of  courtesy,  to 
those  of  France,  England,  and  Spain.  The  climax 
of  chivalrous  accomplishments  is  to  be  found  in  the 
romances  of  the  school  of  the  Amadises  ;  and  ac- 
cording to  the  maxims  laid  down  there,  Cervantes 
has  put  the  following  definition  of  a  perfect  knight 
into  the  mouth  of  Don  Quixote :  u  Un  cavallero 
ha  de  saber  nadar,  comon  dicen  que  nadava  el  pexe 
Nicolas,  o  Nicolao  :  ha  de  saber  herrar  uu  caballo,. 
y  aderezar  la  silla  y  el  freno  :  y  volviendo  a  lo  de 
arriba,  ha  de  guardar  la  fe  a  Dios  y  a  su  dama  :  ha 
de  ser  casto  en  los  pensamientos,  honesto  en  las  pa- 
labras,  liberal  en  las  obras,  valientc  en  los  hechos, 
sufrido  en  los  trabajos,  caritativo  con  los  meneste- 
rosos,  y  finalmente  mantenedor  de  la  verdad  aunque 

made,  for  the  amusement  of  her  husband,  by  Eleonora,  the 
daughter  of  King  James  I.  of  Scotland,  married,  in  1448,  to 
Sigismond,  archduke  of  Austria.  There  were  eight  editions  of 
her  translation,  printed  between  the  years  1488  and  1687  ;  and 
it  has  lately  been  reprinted  in  the  "  Buch  der  Liebe,"  a  coU 
lection  of  old  prose  romances. 


ttOTES.  3()3 

le  cuesta  la  vida  el  defenderla.  De  todas  estas 
grandes  y  minimas  partes  se  com  pone  un  buen  ca- 
ballero  andante."     Ed.  Madrid,  1787,  8,  IV.  216. 

399,  Ipomydon  a  dere  yede  vnto. 

Full  konnyngly  gan  he  it  vndo.^ 

In  the  same  manner,  Sir  Tristrem  shows  his 
noble  blood,  by  his  expertness  in  undoing  the  deer. 
For  complete  information  upon  that  art,  I  refer  the 
reader  to  Mr  Scott's  notes,  in  his  edition  of  Sir 
Tristrem,  p.  255. 

657,  SesenyJ]  As  Mr  Ellis  observes,  "  it  is 
difficult  to  guess  what  country  adjoining  to  Naples 
can  be  intended  by  this  word,  which  generally  means 
Saxony."  Sesseny  is  again  mentioned  in  v.  1602, 
1651,  and  2019. 

1589,  Poyle.~\  It  has  already  been  observed  in 
these  notes,  that  Poyle  means  Apulia,  from  the 
French  name  of  that  province. 

1639,  A  harbor  he  callyd,  withouten  more9 

And  shove  hym  both  byhynd  and  before^ 
Queyntly  endentyd  out  and  in. 
And  also  he  shove  half  his  chynne.~\ 

This  is  a  curious  instance  of  the  fool's  costume. 
In  Mr  Douce's  highly  curious  dissertation,  "  On 
the  Clowns  and  Fools  of  Shakespeare,',  a  head  of 
the  Duke  of  Sutfolk's  fool  is  engraved,  which  is 
shaved  in  imitation  of  a  triple  or  papal  crown  ;  and 
it  is  probable,  that  divers  methods  were  used  by  the 
barbers,  to  give  the  heads  of  fools  a  ludicrous  ap- 
pearance. The  remainder  of  Ipomydon's  apparel  is 
completely  the  same  as  that  of  the  renowned  Don 
Quixote.  Sir  Gwother  (whose  story  is  one  and  the 
same  with  that  of  Robert  the  Deuyll)  also  assumes 
the  guise  of  a  fool,  but  for  a  different  reason,  be- 
ing enjoined  to  it  by  the  Pope  as  a  penance. 

1671,  &c]     The  treatment  which  Ipomydon  re- 
ceives from  the  damsel,  during  this  expedition  to  Ca- 


V>Gi  ttOTES. 

labria,  bears  great  similarity  to  that  experienced  by 
Libeaus  Desconus,  in  the  romance  so  entitled  (Rit- 
son's  Rom.  II.  12.)  ;  and  by  Beaumains,  in  Cax- 
ton's  Morte  d' Arthur,  (Part  I.  chap.  122.)  The 
latter  adventure  is  undoubtedly  borrowed  from  one 
of  the  two  former ;  but  whether  the  author  of  Li- 
beaus, or  he  who  penned  Ipomydon,  is  entitled  to 
the  claim  of  priority  of  invention,  it  is  now  impos- 
sible to  decide. 

2277—2309.]  The  page  of  the  MS.,  containing 
these  lines,  is  written  in  a  different  hand ;  and  this 
accounts  for  the  difference  of  orthography,  which 
otherwise  is  pretty  regular  throughout  this  romance. 


AMIS  AND  AMILOUN. 

V.  80,  Hozo  fyke  thai  were  of  sight."]  The  asto- 
nishing likeness  of  the  two  brothers  in  arms,  is  not 
without  a  parallel  in  the  pages  of  romance.  The 
116th  chapter  of  the  Gesta  Romanorum  contains 
the  history  of  Pepin,  king  of  France,  who  had  two 
sons  by  two  different  wives,  so  exceedingly  alike, 
that  no  one  could  distinguish  one  from  another,  and 
who  refused  to  point  out  the  child  of  his  surviving 
queen  to  her,  lest  she  should  spoil  him  by  too  great 
indulgence.  (See  Warton's  Dissertation,  apudHist. 
Eng.  Poetry,  III.  liv.)  Other  instances  of  equal 
similarity  may  be  found  in  the  writings  of  all  ages, 
and  may  possibly  have  had  their  origin  in  the  amo- 
rous transformation  of  Jupiter  to  deceive  Alcmcne. 

1163,  Sir  Amis  his  szcerd  out-brayd. 
And  lai/d  bitvix  hem  tvo.~\ 

This  strange  custom,  which  is  alluded  to  in  many 


NOTES.  SG5 

of  the  old  romances,  came  originally  from  the  east. 
Aladdin,  in  the  Thousand  and  one  Nights,  having 
transported  the  princess  Badroulboudour  in  her  bed 
to  his  mother's  house,  lies  down  by  her  side  with 
his  back  towards  her,  and  places  an  unsheathed 
sabre  between  himself  and  her,  thereby  insinuating 
that  he  deserved  to  lose  his  life,  if  he  attempted  her 
chastity.  In  the  middle  ages,  the  custom  was  ac- 
tually practised,  when  an  ambassador  married  the 
bride  of  his  sovereign  by  proxy.  In  Sir  Tristrem, 
King  Mark  is  perfectly  satisfied  of  the  innocence  of 
the  connexion  between  that  knight  and  Ysoude, 
when  he  discovers  a  sword  which  accidentally  lay 
between  them.  See  Mr  Scott's  note  on  the  passage, 
p.  325. 

1259,  Fouler  mesel  tfas neuer  none^\  i.e.  Leper. 
About  the  time  this  story  was  originally  invented^ 
the  loathsome  disease  of  leprosy  was  in  its  full  force. 
According  to  Le  Grand  (Fabliaux,  Vol.  V.  p.  138), 
it  was  imported  into  France  during  the  period  of 
the  first  and  second  race  of  kings,  by  trade,  from 
Egypt,  Palestine,  and  Syria.  During  the  reign  of 
Louis-le-Jeune,  lepers  were  so  common,  that  that 
monarch  bequeathed  legacies  to  no  less  than  two 
thousand  hospitals  for  their  reception.  The  degra- 
dation of  lepers  was  excessive  in  those  times.  Ac- 
cording to  the  ancient  custom  of  Normandy,  they 
could  not  inherit  any  property  during  the  continu- 
ance of  their  malady ;  and,  in  the  u  Coutume  de 
Bcauvoisis"  (chap.  39)*,  they  were  debarred  from 
being  witness  in  any  case.  They  were  expelled  from 
all  intercourse  with  men,  banished  to  small  huts  by 
the  side  of  the  highways,  and  furnished  with  a  grey 
mantle,  a  cap,  and  a  wallet.  They  were  obliged  to 
give  warning  to  the  approaching  traveller  by  their 
clapper-dish.  The  following  passages,  quoted  by 
Roquefort  (Diet,  de  laLangucRomanc,  Paris,  l$Q8r 


366  NOTES. 

II.  180),  from  an  ancient  MS.  in  the  Imperial  Li- 
brary (No.  8407,  fol.  100),  throw  considerable 
light  upon  the  subsequent  behaviour  of  the  wife  of 
Sir  Amiloun,  in  driving  him  from  her  board  and 
bed,  as  it  seems  to  have  been  a  matter  of  dispute, 
whether  the  husband  or  wife  of  a  leper  was  or  was 
not  justified  in  parting  from  his  or  her  spouse,  be- 
cause either  of  them  was  afflicted  with  that  disease, 
though  the  author  evidently  asserts,  that  the  party 
has  not  the  right :  K  Por  le  lepre  ne  doit  Pen  pas 
femme  departir  de  son  mari,  et  Ten  dit  ci  que  le  mesel 
se  volt  tenir  chatement,  ele  se  pot  marier,  s'ele  trove 
a  qui ;  et  se  le  mesel  requiert  a  cohabiter  avec  sa 
femme,  elle  ne  li  pot  nier.  Note. — Que  home  ne  pot 
sa  femme  lessier  que  por  fornication,  et  por  lepre 
non,  et  mesel  se  poent  marier.  L'en  ditci,  que  cele 
est  forgable  a  eschever  le  manage,  se  si  mari  devicnt 
mesel,  entre  tant  qu'ii  fust  fiance." — u  Uns  esposa 
une  fame,  qui  par  rompurc  avoit  perdu  ce  qui  est 
necessaire,  nonques  n'habita  avec  elle,  por  ce  qu'il 
est  meseaus  se  velt  a.  autre  marier,  et  Pen  dit  qu'ele 
se  marit,  car  le  premier  ne  vaut  riens  a  marier,  ne 
plus  que  un  enfant,  quant  il  ne  pot  cohabiter, 
Note. — Que  non  poer  de  cohabitation  fet  empeche- 
mcnt  en.  mariage  come  un  enfant." 


O 


NOTES, 


VOLUME  III. 
THE  PROCES  OF  THE  SEUYN  SAGES. 


V.  181,  Of  Donet  thre  pars^\  That  is,  the  three 
parts  of  grammar,  so  called  from  iElius  Donatus,  a 
Roman  grammarian,  whose  work  was  very  gene- 
rally used  in  schools.  Donet  is  again  used  for  a 
grammar  in  the  romance  of  Octavian,  v.  630.  See 
Wartotfs  Hist.  Eng.  Poetry,  I.  281. 

715,  Tale  of  the  knight  and  his  gruyhound.~\ — 
This  tale  has  obtained  very  universal  popularity. 
The  most  ancient  copy  occurs  in  Pilpay's  fables, 
where  it  is  entitled,  "  The  San  ton  and  the  Broken 
Pitcher."  It  also  occurs  in  the  Gesta  Romanorum 
(see  Mr  Douce's  dissertation  on  that  work,  in  his  Il- 
lustrations of  Shakespeare,  Vol.  II.  p.  379),  in  San- 
*ovino,  and  other  collections  of  novels. 

1013,  Ypocras  was  maister  hereJ\  In  an  an- 
cient French  fabliau,  analysed  by  Le  Grand,  and 
versified  by  Way  (II.  63),  the  residence  of  Hippo- 
crates is  also  transferred  to  Rome.     He  is  there 


,j68  notes. 

stated  as  haying  lived  in  the  reign  of  the  Emperor 
Augustus.  The  mention  of  the  King  of  Hungary 
in  our  tale  is  almost  as  great  an  anachronism. 

1411,  Tale  of  the  Husbande  shut  out  J]  This 
very  popular  story  also  occurs  in  the  Latin  collec- 
tion of  tales,  entitled,  De  Clericali  Disciplina,  by 
Petrus  Alphonsus,  and  in  the  French  translation  of 
that  work,  Le  Chatoiement  d'un  Pere  a  son  filsy 
published  separately  by  Barbazan,  and  reprinted  in 
the  new  edition  of  his  Fabliaux  by  M.  Meon,  Paris, 
1808,  Vol.  II.  where  this  tale  occurs  at  p.  89.  un- 
der this  title,  De  celui  qui  enferma  sa  feme  en  une 
tour*  It  was  adopted  in  Boccaccio's  Decameron, 
where  it  forms  the  fourth  novel  of  the  seventh  day. 
Moliere  formed  the  plot  of  his  comedy  of  George 
Dandin  on  this  story,  probably  through  the  medium 
of  Boccaccio.  The  tale  also  occurs  in  Sansovino 
and  other  novellists. 

1559,  The  Kinge  and  his  Steward/]  The  same 
story,  divested  of  some  of  its  most  disgusting  cir- 
cumstances, is  repeated  in  Gower's  Confessio  Aman- 
tis,  book  v.  p.  143,  in  the  reprint  in  Chalmers's 
Poets,  Vol.  II.  A  tale  somewhat  similar  occurs  in 
the  Novellino  of  Masuccio.  (Ediz.  s.  d.  p.  124. 
Nov.  XV.) 

1727,  The  old  zcisc  Man  and  his  Wife.]  This  is 
the  tale  abridged  by  Le  Grand  (Vol.  III.  p.  177.) 
under  the  title,  De  la  fcmme  qui  voulut  eprouver 
son  mart. 

1965,  Virgil  was  zchilom  a  clerk.]  The  necro- 
mancer Virgil  was  almost  as  celebrated  in  the  middle 
ages  as  Dr  Faustus  himself.  His  history  is  related 
in  an  English  black-letter  romauce  preserved  in  the 
British  Museum,  and  entitled,  "  Virgilius.  This 
boke  treateth  of  the  lyfe  of  Virgilius,  and  of  his 
deth,  and  many  marvayles  that  he  did  in  his  lyfe- 
tynic  by  witchcraft  and  nigramancy,  thorough  the 


NOTES.  3fi(j 

help  of  the  devyls  of  hell."  It  was  printed  at  Ant- 
werp by  John  Doesborche,  in  the  year  1510.  The 
first  of  the  wonders  related  in  the  text  is  but  a  meagre 
tale,  when  compared  with  a  somewhat  similar  one 
in  the  Gesta  Romanorum,  and  abridged  from 
that  work  by  Warton  (Dissert,  p.  xlii.)  The  tale 
of  Cressus,  or  Crassus,  is  told  by  Gower,  lib.  v. 
(ed.  1810,  p.  138.)  The  enchanted  mirror,  in  the 
text  (v.  2009.)  is  mentioned  by  that  poet  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms  : 

"  When  Rome  stoode  in  noble  plite, 
Virgile  which  was  the  partite, 
A  mirrour  made  of  his  clergie, 
And  sette  it  in  the  townes  eie, 
Of  marbre  on  a  pillar  withoute, 
That  thei  be  thyrte  mile  aboute  ; 
By  dai,  and  eke  also  bi  night, 
In  that  mirrour  behold  might, 
Her  enemies  if  any  were,"  &c. 

A  mirror,  endued  with  the  same  virtue,  is  describ- 
ed by  Chaucer.  Mr  Warton  has  bestowed  much 
labour  in  collecting  instances  of  similar  tales  of  en- 
chantment.    (Hist.  Eng.  Poetry,  I.  407,  et  seq.) 

2201,  The  Magpie.]  We  have  here  the  story  of 
the  Husband  and  the  Parrot  in  the  Arabian  Nights. 
Almost  the  same  tale  is  told  by  the  prime  vizier  in 
the  story  of  the  King,  his  Son,  Concubine,  and 
beren  Viziers,  translated  by  Mr  Jonathan  Scott. 
(lales,  Anecdotes,  and  Letters  from  the  Arabic  and 
Persian.     Shrewsbury,   1800,   8.  p.  63.) 

2389,  On  a  dai  thai  com  ther  Merlin  pleid.l  The 
discovery  of  Merlin,  as  related  here,  is  so  exactly 

Simi  il  t0  a  Passa§e  in  the  romance  of  "  Artour 
and  Merlin,"  that  it  was  evidently  borrowed  from 
thence.  Vortigern  had  imprisoned  his  wise  men  tilL 
the  boy  could  be  found,  whose  blood,  according  to 
their  prediction,  was  to  undo  the  charm,  by  reason 
vol.  in.  A  a 


370  NOTES. 

of  which  the  intended  castle  on  Salisbury-Plain  could 
not  be  constructed,  and  had  sent  three  messengers 
into  divers  parts  to  search  him  out  and  murder  him. 

"  On  a  day  as  ich  you  telle, 

Tho  ich  thre  sechers  snelle, 

That  were  y-sent  fram  the  king 

To  hauen  of  this  child  findeing, 

Comen  al  thre,  bi  cas, 

Into  the  toun  ther  Merlin  was. 

Merlin  in  the  strete  tho  pleyd, 

And  on  of  his  felawes  he  trayd 

That  him  seyde  loude  to  : 

"  Foule  schrewe !  fram  ous  go ; 

Thou  art  al  biyeten  amis ! 

Thou  n'ost  who  tin  fader  is  : 

Ac  some  deuel,  as  ich  wene, 

The  biyat  ous  euer  to  tene." 

Merlin  seighe  this  and  vnderstode 

Tho  thre  it  were  that  sought  his  blood 

That  tho  riden  ther  forhi 

That  of  this  child  herden  cri. 

He  seighe  that  ich  his  hors  withdrough. 

Merlin  schoke  his  heued  and  lough. 

He  was  of  fiue  winter  eld, 

And  he  spac  wordes  swithe  held  : 

"  Yuel  the  bifalle  thou  conioun ! 

Thou  hast  y-seyd  to  loude  thi  roun ! 

Her  cometh  the  kinges  messanger 

That  hath  me  sought  al  this  yer, 

For  to  han  min  hert-blod ; 

And  it  may  don  hem  no  gode. 

Haste  thai  haue  me  to  slen  : 

Ac,  bi  that  thai  me  with  eighen  sen 

Therto  worth  hem  no  talent, 

And  yif  thai  deden  thai  weren  schent." 

Messengers  to  him  gan  terne, 

And  he  oyaines  hem  fast  gan  erne ; 

And  on  hem  Merlin  lough  forsolhe, 

And  seyd  to  hem,  "  Welcometh  bothe  ! 

Now  ye  haue  y-founden  me, 

That  you  was  ho  ten  for  to  sle 

Er  ye  with  me  spak  aught, — 

Thus  yo  was  bihoten  and  taught— 

Mi  blood  to  haue  to  that  werk 

That  schuld  be  so  strong  sterk. 


NOTES.  371 

For  mi  blood  no  worth  it  the  bet, 
Neuer  more  the  bet  y-set : 
Ichil  proue  leighers  thai  beth 
That  so  bispoken  mi  deth. 
Ac,  certes,  yiue  ich  were  ded 
The  king  no  worth  therof  no  red." 

(Fol.  208.  v.  1185-1232.) 

2563,  The  Sheriff's  Widow  and  the  Knight.'] 
This  is  the  far-famed  story  of  the  Matron  of  Ephe- 
Sus.  The  original  occurs  in  Petronius  Arbiter's 
Satyricon.  The  most  popular  version  of  it  is  that 
of  La  Fontaine  (Contes,  Ed.  1778,  I.  168.)  A 
very  similar  story  is  related  in  an  ancient  French 
fabliau,  printed  by  Barbazan  (Ed.  1808,  tome  III. 
p.  462.)  Heywood  borrowed  the  plot  of  his  come- 
dy, entitled  "  The  Widow's  Tears,"  from  the  story 
in  Petronius  ;  but  the  different  translations  and  imi- 
tations are  too  numerous  to  be  specified  in  this 
place. 

2751,  Tale  of  Maister  Gemes.~\  From  the  cir- 
cumstance of  the  faces  before  and  behind  (v.  2780.), 
it  would  appear  that  Gemes  is  a  corruption  of  Ja- 
nus. This  is  an  highly  absurd  story,  and  is  only 
to  be  found  in  few  versions  of  the  Seven  Wise  Mas- 
ters. It  is  substituted  in  the  place  of  a  much  better 
tale  which  has  obtained,  in  different  shapes,  great 
popularity  in  many  countries.  An  old  knight  had 
married  a  young  woman  of  great  beauty,  who,,  by 
her  singing,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole 
city  of  Rome.  Three  favourite  knights  of  the  em- 
peror's court  made,  one  night,  each  a  private  as- 
signation with  her,  and  each  of  them  promised  her 
one  hundred  florins  for  the  gratification.  She, 
however,  informed  her  husband,  and  they  mutually 
agreed  to  murder  the  knights  and  take  away  their 
money ;  which  they  accordingly  executed.  The 
woman  then  sent  for  her  brother,  who  was  one  of 
the  sentinels  of  the  city,  and  pretending  that  her 


372  NOTES. 

husband  had  killed  a  knight  for  having  attempted 
her  chastity,  prevailed  on  him  to  throw  the  dead 
body  into  the  river.  When  he  returned,  she  pre- 
tended to  go  into  the  cellar  to  draw  some  wine,  but 
returned  in  great  terror,  exclaiming  that  the  dead 
man  was  returned.  The  brother  very  courageously 
drowned  the  second  knight ;  but  being  informed  on 
his  return,  that  the  dead  man  had  again  made  his 
appearance,  he  took  the  third  body  into  the  wood, 
and  burnt  it.  It  happened  that,  during  a  short  ab- 
sence from  the  fire,  a  knight  appeared,  and  alighted 
to  warm  himself.  The  sentinel  on  his  return,  mis- 
taking him  for  the  dead  man,  a  fourth  time  return- 
ed, seized,  and  threw  the  knight,  together  with  his 
horse,  into  the  fire.  The  sentinel  went  back  to 
his  sister,  who  gave  him  a  quantity  of  wine,  suffi- 
cient to  intoxicate  him.  Some  time  after,  a  quarrel 
happening  between  the  wife  and  her  husband,  he 
struck  her.  She  exclaimed,  that  he  wished  to  mur- 
der her  as  he  had  done  the  three  knights.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  discovery,  they  were  both  appre- 
hended, examined,  and  hanged.  The  first  origin  of 
this  tale,  and  of  its  innumerable  imitations,  is  pro- 
bably, as  Mr  Douce  observes  (in  his  analysis  of  the 
same  story,  as  it  occurs  in  the  Gesta  Romanorum), 
the  little  hunch-backed  tailor  in  the  Arabian  Nights. 
The  ancient  French  poets  composed  five  fabliaux 
upon  the  same  ground-work,  four  of  which  are 
printed  ill  the  new  edition  of  Barbazan,  viz.  Des trots 
Bogus j  by  Durand  (Vol.  III.  p.  245),  which  comes 
nearest  to  the  common  original ;  Du  Scgretain  Moine 
(I.  242) ;  Du  Prestre  fon  porta,  ou  la  tongue  nuit 
(IV.  20)  ;  and  d? Estourmi,  by  Ungues  de  Piaucele 
(ib.  452).  Abstracts  of  these  fabliaux,  as  well  as 
of  the  fifth,  Le  Sacrist  ain  de  Cluni9  may  be  seen  in 
Le  Grand's  work  (Vol.  IV.  p.  241—286).  For 
the  further  imitations  of  these  fabliaux;   I  refer  the 


NOTES.  o<3 

reader  to  Mr  Douce's  Illustrations  of  Shakespeare, 
Vol.  II.  p.  378,  379. 

2909,  The  tzoo  dreams*]  This  story  occurs,  with 
some  variation,  in  the  Novel  Hero  of  Masuccio  (P. 
IV.  Nov.  40),  in  the  Tartarian  Tales  of  M.  Gueu- 
lette,  and  in  several  French  collections  of  novels. 
The  circumstance  of  the  two  dreams  at  the  begin- 
ning is  truly  oriental,  and  is  common  to  several 
tales  of  the  Arabians. 

3563,  He  vnderstode  al  fozoles  language,"]  This 
is  also  an  oriental  fiction,  and  the  Mahometans  have 
the  authority  of  the  Koran,  that  the  gift  of  under- 
standing the  meaning  of  the  several  voices  of  birds 
was  possessed  by  Solomon  in  an  eminent  degree. 
In  the  27th  chapter,  entitled  "  The  Ant,"  Solomon 
is  made  to  say,  u  O  men,  we  have  been  taught  the 
speech  of  birds,  and  have  had  all  things  bestowed 
on  us  :  this  is  manifest  excellence."  He  afterwards 
blames  the  lapwing,  for  having  neglected  to  pay  her 
court.  She,  however,  soon  makes  her  appearance, 
and  informs  him  of  having  discovered  the  country 
of  Saba,  and  the  excellent  queen  thereof.  The  same 
bird  was,  according  to  the  Arabian  historians,  very 
useful  to  Solomon,  on  his  pilgrimage  from  Jerusa- 
lem to  Mecca.  Being  in  want  of  water  to  perform 
his  ablution,  he  looked  for  the  lapwing,  4i  whose 
business  it  was  to  find  it;  for  it  is  pretended  she 
was  sagacious  enough  to  discover  water  under 
ground,  which  the  devils  used  to  draw,  after  she 
had  marked  the  place  with  her  bill."  Sale's  Ko- 
ran, Vol.  II.  p.  223,  note  i.  The  67th  chapter  of 
the  Gesta  Romanorum  contains  a  tale  of  a  woman, 
who  also  had  the  valuable  property  of  conversing 
with  the  birds.  Both  Ben  Jonson,  in  his  Masque 
of  the  Fortunate  Isles,  and  Butler  have  ridiculed 
this  fiction,  which  was  not  considered  as  such  by 
the  mystical  writers  of  the  seventeenth  century. — 


874  NOTES. 

Butler,  when  enumerating  the  wonderful  acquire. 
mcnts  of  Ralpho,  says  : 

"  He  understood  the  speech  of  birds 
As  well  as  they  themselves  do  words ; 
Could  tell  what  subtlest  parrots  mean, 
That  speak  and  think  contrary  clean." 


OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 


V.  127,  Thounever  seghno  woman, But  schehadde 
a  by-leman,  That  myght  conceyue  two  children/] 
We  have  here  the  opinion  of  the  mother  of  Lc  Fraine 
(see  Vol.  I.  p.  359.),  that  twins  could  not  be  pro- 
duced by  one  man,  repeated,  which  makes  it  pro- 
bable that  it  really  was  an  old  wives'  tale  of  the 
middle  ages.  Though  the  German  romance  of  Oc- 
tavian  differs  in  many  respects  from  the  English  one, 
the  suggestion  is  made  by  the  old  empress  there  like- 
wise. 

481,  A  chyld  that  ys  of  kynges  blood,  Alyoun 
struys  hit  for  no  good/]  Instead  of  assigning  this 
popular  reason,  the  German  romance  more  piously 
attributes  the  mercy  of  the  "  beastyn  king"  to  the 
interference  of  providence.  In  the  romance  of  Be- 
vis  of  Hampton  the  same  superstitious  notion,  with 
an  additional  condition,  is  introduced.  Josian, 
while  awaiting  the  return  of  that  hero  in  a  cave,  is 
surprised  by  the  appearance  of  two  lions,  who 
speedily  vanquish  and  devour  the  faithful  squire 
Boniface,     Upon  this 


NOTES.  375 

"  Josian  into  the  caue  gan  shete 
And  the  twoo  lyons  at  hur  feete, 
Grennand  on  hur  with  muche  grame, 
But  they  no  myghte  do  hur  no  shame  ; 
For  the  kynd  of  lyouns,  Y  wys, 
A  kynges  doughter  that  maide  is, 
Kyn^es  doughter,  quene  and  maide  both, 
The  lyouns  myght  do  hur  noo  wroth." 

MS.  in  tlie  possession  of  the  Marquis  of  Stafford. 

497,  Graundyght.~\  A  mistake  of  the  transcrib- 
er for  Brandyght,  which  is  mentioned  in  v.  1838, 
and  undoubtedly  means  Brindisi,  in  the  kingdom  of 
Naples. 

616,  Japhet.~\  Probably  Joppa.  A  romantic 
incident  which  occurs  in  the  German,  and,  as  I  am 
informed  by  my  friend  Mr  Conybeare  of  Christ 
Church,  Oxford,  also  in  the  original  French,  is  in- 
judiciously omitted  in  the  English  version.  During 
the  voyage  one  of  the  mariners  endeavours  to  com- 
mit violence  upon  the  person  of  the  empress,  but 
the  lion  hearing  her  cries,  seizes  upon  him,  and  tears 
him  in  pieces. 

704.]  Florent's  predilection  for  hawks  and 
horses  is  introduced  to  prove  his  noble  birth ;  and, 
for  the  same  reason,  his  brother  is  made  to  undergo 
the  ordeal  of  being  preserved  from  the  rage  of  the 
lioness  on  account  of  his  regal  descent.  The  min- 
strel no  doubt  wished  his  hearers  to  believe  in  the 
truth  of  his  narration,  and  introduced  these  inci- 
dents to  render  the  innocence  of  the  empress  per- 
fectly clear. 

910,  Gales  i ,]  j.  e.  Galicia. 

1887,  Sche  swore  her  oth  be  Seynt  J  ante 

So  hyght  my  sone  that  was  take  fra  me.~\ 

This  singular  rhyme  strongly  supports  the  opi- 
nion of  Wallis,  and  of  Tyrwhitt  in  his  Essay 
on  the  Versification  of  Chaucer,  that  the  final  e, 
which  is  at  present  mute,  was  anciently  pronounced 
obscurely^  like  the  e  feminine  of  the  French. 


376  NOTES. 


SIR  AMADAS. 

V.  1 72,  This  cors  the  yerthe  he  forbedeJ]  The  law 
•which  gives  the  creditor  the  barbarous  right  of  de- 
nying to  the  body  of  his  debtor  ic  the  decent  rites 
of  burial,"  of  which  Massinger  has  made  such  an 
admirable  use  in  The  Fatal  Dowry,  probably  ori- 
ginated, as  Mr  Gifford  remarks,  in  that  of  Asychis, 
the  grandson  of  Cheops,  who,  according  to  Hero- 
dotus, allowed  the  Egyptians  to  pledge  the  dead 
bodies  of  their  parents  as  security  for  money  bor- 
rowed. 


GLOSSARY. 


ABBREVIATIONS. 

The  number  refers  to  that  of  the  verse  in  which  the  word 
explained  occurs. — A.  Kyng  Alisaunder. — C.  Sir  Cleges. — 
L.  Lai  le  Freine. — R.  Richard  Coeur  de  Lion. — I.  The  Lyfe  of 
Ipomydon. — AA.  Amis  and  Ameloun. — SS.  Process  of  the 
Seuen  Sages. — O.  Octouian  Imperator. — Am.  Sir  Amadas.— 
H.  The  Hunting  of  the  Hare. — Sax.  Saxon. — Fr.  French. — 
Teut.  Teutonic. — Lat.  Latin. 


A,  A.  7809,  he.     In  the  oldest  copy  of  Sir  Bevis,  in  the 

Auchinleck  MS.,  f*  a"  is  continually  used  for  he 
Aar,  A.  5033,  ere,  before 
Abatyde,  0. 1744,  lowered,  cast  down 
Abaye,  A.  3882,  at  bay 
Abelde,  grow  bold 
Abeyen,  Abigge,  see  Aby 
Abite,  A.  5611,  bite  to  death 
Abland,  SS.  2462,  blinded,  made  blind 
Abone,  R.  above 
Abought,  about 

Abought,  suffered  for,  from  Aby,  Sax. 
Abowed,  bowed,  did  obeisance 
Abowte,  A.  3239,  see  Abought 
Abrad,  SS,  610,  struck  with  barrenness 


378  GLOSSARY. 

Abrayde,  I.  1149,  started,  roused  himself,  Sax. 

Abugge,  A.  2971,  Abuyn,  See  Aby. 

Abyche,  H.  179,  Abig,  suffer  for,  4-ythmi  gratia 

Abye,  Abygge,  suffer  for 

Abyt,  abided,  abode,  staid 

Ac,  but,  Sax. 

Acast,  SS.  600,  cast  away,  lose 

Accounsayl,  R.  2140,  counsel  with 

Achaunged,  changed,  altered 

Acise,  A.  1423,  assizes,  juridical  establishment 

Acketton,  R.  375,  a  quilted  leathern  jacket,  worn  under  the 

mail  armour ;  sometimes  used  for  the  armour  itself,  O.  JFV. 
Acombred,  A.  encumbred 
Acoost,  R.  6548,  6792,  Acost,  A.  on  the  sides,  or  flanks,  a 

cote,  Fr.    So  acost,  A.  3466,  so  near.     Feorre  aboute  and 

eke  acost,  A.  6027,  far  about  and  on  all  sides 
Acoysyng,  A.  3973,  accusing 
Acremen,  L.  176,  ploughmen 
Ad,  SS.  489,  hath 

Adant,  A.  2853,  daunt,  quench,  mitigate 
Adawe,  R.  973,  kill,  execute  ;  quasi,  take  away  from  the  day 

or  life,  see  Dawe 
Adrad,  adred,  afraid,  Sax. 

Adreint,  Adreynt,  drenched,  drowned,  suffocated,  Sax. 
Aduentayle,  O.  1153,  the  visor;  sometimes  tliat  part  of  the 

helmet  which  could  be  raised  to  breathe  more  freely,  ven- 

tattle,  Fr. 
Adyte,  R.  1174,  indite,  write 
Afatement,  A.  661,  address,  ajustment,  the  action  of  dressing ; 

afaitement,  O.  Fr.  from  afaiter,  which  also  means  teaching, 

knowing ;  afeytar,  Span. 
Afannce,  A.  732,  affiance  ?     Perhaps  he  means  to  say,  "  a& 

to  other  men  you  have  confidence,  and  can  tell  their  fate." — D. 
Afefed,  AA.  2486,  feofed,  gave  fiefs  [to  the  abbey] 
Afelle,  A.  5241,  fell,  cut  down,  Sax. 
Afeormed,  A.  7356,  confirmed,  made  fast,  Fr. 
Aferd,  afeared,  afraid,  frightened,  Sax. 
Aferd  (aferir,  O.  Fr.)  That  the  contrais  be  aferd,  A.  1813,  that 

it  be  made  the  affair  or  business  of  the  countries. — E. 
Afere,  A.  6148,  contrive,  faire,  Fr. 
Affye,  A.  7347,  trust,  Fr. 
Afiled,  defiled 

A  fin,  Aline,  in  fine,  in  the  end,  <)jin,  cnfin,  Fr. 
Afonge,  receive,  reach,  undertake,  seize,  Sax.     The  spere 

n'olde  him  along,  A.  972,  the  spear  could  not  reach  hi* 

flesh  on  account  of  the  thickness  of  his  armour. 

5 


GLOSSARY.  379 

After,  afterwards,  according  to ;  A.  5418,  according  to  the 
shape  of.    After  that  they  ware,  A.  2503,  according  to  their 
degree 
Afye,  Afyghe,  trust,  Fr. 
Afyghteth,  A.  6583,  tameth,  reduceth  to  subjection.    Affies, 

qffiete's,  O.  Fr.  were  subjects  or  tenants 
Agaynsaying,  R.  600,  contradiction 
Agelt,  SS.  686,  forfeited,  entgelten,  Germ. 
Ageyn,  Ageys,  against,   toward,  Sax.    Agaynes  theo  lady 

Olympias,  A.  190,  against  her  arrival 
Agin,  SS.  1410,  begin 

Ago,  AA.  1585,  Agone,  AA.  681,  gone  away,  Sax. 
Agrame,  A.  4279,  Agramed,  A.  3310,  4227,  R.  1720,  agriev- 

ed,  angered,  Sax. 
Agref,  A.  3785,  to  grief 
Agrise,  A.  3749,  shuddering,  5369,  trembled,  were  affrighted, 

Sax. 
Agroose,  Agrose,  trembled,  was  affrighted 
Ahygh,  A.  6236,  on  high 
Aighteden,  eighth 
Ain,  AA.  2138,  eyes 
Aire,  heir 

Airen,  A.  4923,  eggs 
Akale,  SS.  1512,  cool,  cold 
Akedoun,  A.  2153,  see  Acketton 
Akennyng,  A.  3468,  reconnoitring,  discovering,  Sax, 
Aknawe,  Aknowe,  A.  3540,  3278,  on  knee,  kneeling.    And 
made  mony  knight  aknawe,  A.  3540,  set  many  knights  oh 
their  knees  by  unhorsing  them 
Aknowe,  make  known,  confess 
Al  that,  A.  2145,  until  that 

Alangenes,  SS.  1736,  probably  aloneness,  i,  e.  single  life 
Alblastereres,    Albristris,    cross-bowmen,    sometimes   cross- 
bows.   See  the  Notes,  p.  303. 
Alder,  older 

Alien,  AA.  2194,  2330,  anoint 
Alight,  A.  473,  lighted,  pitched 
Alkens,  SS.  3141,  all  kinds  of,  Sax. 
All  and  some,  R.  2284,  altogether 
Allegate,  always,  at  all  events,  Sax. 
Aller,  the  Sax.  genitive  of  All 
Allerfast,  A.  1569,  the  first  of  all 
Almatour,  A.  3042,  Almoner  ?    Dunbar  has  the  word  almaser 

for  the  same  meaning 
Alond,  ashore.    Alond  drowe  heom,  A.  435,  withdrew  them- 
selves further  inland,  up  into  the  country 


380  GLOSSARY. 

Alonged,  longed  for 

Alouris,  A.  7210,  passages,  corridors,  aloir,  O.Fr. 

Alowe,  R.  4662,  praises,  approves  of,  allouer,  Fr. 

Also,  Al  so,  (frequently)  as 

Alsone,  as  soon 

Alsswith,  as  soon,  as  quickly 

Altherbest,  Altherformest,  Althermost,  &c.  the  best,  formost, 
greatest  of  all 

Aly,  A.  4370,  allez,  Fr. 

Araaied,  dismayed,  frightened 

Amere.  With  sweord  rydeu  he  dude  amere,  A.  4427,  pro- 
bably, he  rode  [through  the  ranks]  with  his  sword  bitterly, 
i.  e.  felly,  wrathfully  :    Ameir,  O.  Fr.  rude,  bitter,  hateful 

Amered,  SS.  2266,  examined,  proved  innocent,  amerean,  Sax. 

Amerrede,  O.  1307,  marred,  spoiled,  broke  to  pieces 

Ameye,  mistress,  amie,  Fr. 

Amiture,  A.  3975,  friendship 

Amideward,  in  the  middle 

Amonestement,  A.  6974,  admonition,  Fr. 

Amorewe,  Amorwe,  Amorn,  in  the  morning 

Amorayle,  Amyrayle,  admiral ;  Saracen  commander,  sometimes 
king 

Amy,  friend,  mistress,  Fr. 

An,  if,  on,  one.    An  hy,  R.  809,  on  high 

Analyng,  A.  2166,  probably  a  corruption  of  annihilating,  i.  e. 
killing 

And,  an,  if 

Anerne,  A.  560,  anon  ?  Peihaps  we  should  read  an  erne,  i.  e. 
he  returned  in  the  shape  of  an  eagle 

An-hong,  hang,  hung 

Annye,  annoyance,  ennuie,  Fr. 

An-ondyr,  O.  550,  under,  beneath 

Anon  right,  right  anon,  immediately 

Anoycd.     Him  anoyed,  A.  876,  annoyed  himself,  was  annoyed 

Anter,  Antour,  Antur,  Am.  76,  A.'  3889,  4513,  adventure, 
chance.  Al  your  hyghe  streynthe  to  honour  power  me  hath 
made  antur,  A.  4512,  4513.  Chance  hath  made  me  to© 
poor  to  pay  you  proper  honour. 

Anvied,  A.  1102,  envied,  enraged 

Anuwed,  SS.  2613,  annoyed 

Anyght,  at  night 

Appaied,  Apayde,  pleased,  content 

Aparceiued,  perceived 

Aperte,  open.     Aperteliche,  openly,  Fr. 

Apayre,  R.  1984,  detract,  impair,  calumniate,  Fr.  Apayryd, 
R.  7016,  impaired,  lessened 


GLOSSARY.  581 

Aplight,  Aplyght,  R.  2265,  &c.  &c.  complete,  perfect ;  also,  I 
pledge,  I  promise,  and  generally  a  mere  expletive 

Apon,  upon 

Appiny,  H.  5,  haply.  There  is  an  erasure  in  the  MS.  be- 
tween the  letters  n  and  y,  and  the  whole  word  is  obscurely 
written 

Aprise,  A.  3529,  SS.  1941,  0. 1725,  prize,  reward,  enterprize, 
fame,  adventure 

Aproue,  AA.  803,  prove 

Aqued,  R.  520,  read  A  qued,  a  man  capable  of  doing  great 
mischief  or  harm 

Aqueightte,  A.  5257,  shook,  trembled 

Aqueint,  quenched,  put  out 

Aquelle,  quell,  kill,  acwellan,  Sax. 

Ar,  ere,  before ;  C.  35,  342,  or 

Arape,  A.  4239,  quickly,  raptim,  Lat. 

Araught,  SS.  895,  taken  away 

Arawe,  A  rawe,  in  a  row,  on  a  rowe 

Arbeset,  A.  6765,  strawberry-tree,  arbous,  arboisier,  Fr.  ar- 
butus, Lat. 

Areche,  R.  7037,  reach 

Areden,  A.  5115,  tell,  say ;  generally,  to  counsel,  Sax. 

Arere,  raise 

Aresede,  SS.  915,  raised,  heaved  up 

Aresoned,  A.  6751,  spoke,  addressed,  arraisoner,  Fr. 

Arest,  O.  1425,  aredest,  relatest 

Arise,  A.  3748,  arisen.  Ariseth  here  worschipes,  A.  1069 
cometh  the  restoration  of  her  honour.    Arist,A.  5458,  arose 

Arm,  SS.  852,  harm 

Anne,  A.  5729,  weapon 

Arnede,  SS.  1594,  errand 

Arnement,  A.  6418,  SS.  2776,  probably  ink,  corrupted  from 
atramentum,  Lat. 

Arnyng,  A.  2165,  crushing,  amer,  Fr.  enfeeble,  strain,  break 
the  back  of? — Cotgrave 

Aroum,  A.  1637,  R.  464,  certainly  signifies  at  large,  as  Mr 
Tyrwhitt  conjectures  on  the  following  passage  of  the  House 
of  Fame,  Part  II.  line  32  : 

"  As  this  foule  when  it  beheld, 
That  I  aroume  was  in  the  feld." 

Aroun,  around.  More  feor  aroun,  A.  6603,  more  far  round, 
of  greater  circumference 

A-rowe,  R.  1787,  in  a  row 

Ars,  A.  1546,  art,  science 

Arsmetrike,  SS.  185,  arithmetic 

Ars-table,  A.  287,  astrolabe ;  see  A.  132 


382  GLOSSARY. 

Arsoun,  saddle,  properly  the  bow  of  the  saddle,  Fr. 

Arst,  erst,  first,  sooner 

Arwe,  A.  3340,  arrant.  (Line  3821  of  King  Richard  should 
stand  thus  :  "  Frensche  men  ar  nance"  &c.  i.  e.  covetous.) 

Arweblast  of  vys,  R.  5225,  arbalete  a  vis,  Fr.  a  cross-bow, 
the  string  of  which  was  drawn  by  a  screw. — E. 

Ascent,  R.  4289,  ascending  number 

Aschore,  H.  257,  aside  ? 

Aselyd,  R.  sealed 

Asered,  SS.  605,  dried  up,  shrivelled 

Asesse,  R.  6311,  cease  (as  a  verb  active),  stop,  Fr, 

Asiweth,  A.  2494,  sueth,  followeth 

Askith,  A.  6219,  requireth 

Askof,  A.  874,  6986,  in  scoff,  in  derision ;  hence  perhaps  the 
vulgar  expression,  to  look  askew. — E. 

Askyle,  I.  2064,  according  to  right ;  it  is,  however,  a  mere  ex- 
pletive  in  the  line  referred  to 

Asoyle,  R.  1317,  absolve,  acquit,  Fr. 

Asoyne,  A.  3201,  excuse,  impediment,  enso'ing,  Fr. 

Asperaunt,  A.  4871,  bold,  proud,  aspirant,  Fr. 

Asschreynt,  A.  4819,  SS.  1485,  deceived,  cheated 

Assise,  A.  7074,  commodities,  things  assigned,  SS.  2490,  esta- 
blished or  legal  customs 

Assoyne,  A.  1021, 1443,  a  lawful  excuse  for  absence,  enso'ing, 
Fr. 

Astely,  Am.  396,  hastily 

Asteynte,  A.  880,  atteinted 

Astite,  quickly,  as  quickly 

Astore,  together,  in  a  heap,  numerous,  plentiful 

Astoryd,  stored,  provisioned 

Astromyen,  A.  astronomer 

Aswelt,  A.  6639,  extingnisheth 

Aswithe,  as  soon,  quickly 

Asyghe,  A.  3879,  essay 

Asyse,  O.  81,  situation,  rank,  Fr. 

Asytte,  A.  1665,  keep  the  saddle,  not  to  be  unhorsed 

At,  SS.  3824,  that.     See  Dr  Jamieson's  Diet,  in  voce 

Atake,  AA.  2070,  overtake,  Sax, 

At  alle,  T.  1369,  entirely,  altogether 

Ate,  SS.  2296,  out  of 

Ateinte,  SS.  1756,  give  a  colouring  to,  atincter,  Fr. 

Atent,  In  lyghtte  atent,  Am.  372,  on  trifles 

Ateynt,  R.  4847,  6131 ,  lost,  fatigued,  worn  out,  atainer,  O.  Fr. 

At  on,  L.  279,  320,  of  one  mind,  agreed 

Athrang,  A.  3409,  in  a  throne: 

A -thro,  in  three  parts 


GLOSSARY.  383 

Ato,  asunder,  in  two 

Atoure,  A.  6834,  about,  around,  Fr. 

Atraid,  SS.  1867,  vexed,  angered.     See  Tray 

Atvinne,  Atwen,  Atweyne,  in  two,  asunder 

Atvix,  betwixt 

Atwot,  SS.  1876,  upbraided.  To  twit  a  person,  is  an  expres* 
sion  still  in  use 

Atyr,  A.  7270,  7682,  attire,  ornaments,  furniture,  Fr. 

Avenaunt,  comely,  graceful,  beautiful,  Fr. 

Aventure,  A.  7837,  adventure,  change,  fortune 

Averil,  April 

Avetrol,  A.  2693,  SS.  1107,  bastard,  avoistre,  Fr. 

Aveyse,  A.  5261,  careful,  wary,  Fr. 

Aught,  SS.  738,  R.  2460,  any  thing,  at  all,  Sax. 

Aughtte,  A.  6884,  possessions,  Sax. 

Aviron,  A.  2672,  round  about,  environ,  Fr. 

Aunter,  A.  299,  adventure.  Auntred,  A.  4265,  adventured, 
risked,  Fr. 

Auntre,  R.  2460,  on  the  contrary,  on  the  other  hand 

Auoir,  SS.  2205,  possessions,  wealth,  Fr. 

Avow,  vow,  Fr. 

Avowe,  A.  3160,  avowed,  acknowledged  friend 

Autere,  O.  1312,  altar 

Autors,  A.  4519,  ancestors.  The  Bodl.  MS.  reads  Anteces« 
sours 

Autour,  author 

Avys,  advise.     Avysy,  advised,  avisS,  Fr. 

Avysed,  A.  221,  6737,  observe,  look  at,  Fr. 

Awaped,  A.  3673,  confounded,  stupified,  Sax. 

Awe,  own.    Awe,  R.  3566,  awe,  fear,  terror 

Aweighte,  A.  5858,  awoke,  Fr, 

Awreke,  revenge,  Sax. 

Awter,  alter 

Axen,  R.  6563,  ask 

Ay,  A.  568,  egg 

Ay,  Aye,  ever 

Aye,  A.  66,  Ayee,  Ayeine,  Ayene,  Ayenes,  again,  against,  to- 
wards 

Ayren,  A.  4719,  6602,  eggs 

Ayse,  ease 

Az  armes,  to  arms,  Fr. 

Bacyn,  R.  2557,  helmet,  see  Basinet 

Bad,  Badden,  A.  1459,  asked,  prayed,  Sax. 

Bailye,  A.  7532,  government,  deputation,  Fr. 

Balayn,  R.  2982,  seal-skin  ?    Balain,  Fr,  a  whale :  btit  the 


384  GLOSSARY. 


two  animals  could  easily  have  been  confounded  together,  as 
the  whale  frequently  was  with  the  narwhale.  See  Huel-bone 

Balde,  bold,  Sax. 

Bale,  SS.  702,  705,  sorrow,  evil,  mischief,  &c.  Sax. 

Bale,  H.  190,  belly.     Balyd,  H.  187,  bellied 

Balles  in  heore  hode,  A.  6481,  the  balls  in  their  hoods,  or  hel- 
mets, i.e.  their  heads.  Balles  out  of  hoodes  soone  they 
playde,  R.  4524,  cut  off  heads  in  helmets ;  a  metaphor  taken 
from  the  bowling-green 

Balys  bette,  O.  989,  abated  harms  or  evils.     See  Bale 

Bane,  evil,  mischief,  misery,  curse,  death,  Sax.  Bannes,  R. 
1117,  curses 

Bannerere,  standard-bearer,  ensign 

Bar,  A.  2692,  bore 

Barbican,  A.  1591,  a  parapet,  or  strong  high  wall,  with  turrets 
to  defend  the  gate  and  draw-bridge,  Fr. 

Barm,  L.  201,  6.  273,  R.  4767,  lap,  bosom,  Sax. 

Barnage,  baronage,  Fr. 

Basinet,  R.  403,  Basnet,  A.  2234,  Bassenet,  Basyn,  A.  2333,  a 
light  helmet  made  in  the  form  of  a  bason,  and  hence  so  de- 
nominated.    Bacinet,  O.  Fr. 

Bate,  SS.  3579,  3581,  boat 

Batelar,  A.  1433,  warriour,  batailleur,  O.  Fr.  Batelyng,  battle 

Bath,  both 

Batt,  A.  5832,  battes,  A.  78,  clubs,  batis,  O.  Fr. 

Baudekyns,  A.  202,  759,  Baudekyn,  R.  3349,  Fr.  baudequin, 
baldequin.  It  means  tissue  of  gold,  and  sometimes  a  ca- 
nopy, probably  from  being  ornamented  with  the  tissue. 
Every  body  has  heard  of  the  baldochins  at  St  Peter's  church. 
There  is  very  good  reason  for  supposing  this  \\  ord  to  have 
been  formed  from  Baldach,  the  name  given  to  Bagdat  in 
the  middle  ages. — D. 

Baudry,  A.  4698,  baudrike,  sword-belt,  Fr. 

Bandoun,  A.  3180,  5505,  7720,  power,  discretion,  govern- 
ment, Fr. 

Bawraed,  embalmed 

Bay,  A.  4376,  boy 

Bay  of  bor,  A.  200,  baying  boars,  i.  e.  setting  them  at  bay. 
hunting  them  down 

Baylyd,  boiled 

Be,  by.     Be  that,  C.  58,  by  that  time 

Beatour,  A.  4511,  round  about,  a  tour,  Fr. 

Bede,  bid,  pray,  R.  671,  offer,  R.  5915,  abide.  Bedes,  prayer* 

Bedene,  altogether,  together 

Beek,  A.  5188,  beak,  snout 

Beeth,  Beth,  Buth,  be,  are 

Befet,  R.  762,  buffet,  blow,  Fr. 


GLOSSARY.  385 


Behalt,  R.  1102,  beheld 

Beheet,  behete,  promised 

Behelyd,  R.  5586.  covered,  Sax. 

Behest,  Behight,  promise,  (both  v.  and  subst.) 

Be-hongyd,  A.  201,  hung  with  tapestry.     See  Notes,  p.  294 

Beinge,  A.  223,  condition 

Beknawe,  R.  1700,  Beknowe,  AA.  1279,  make  known.     B* 

knew,  A.  1810,  known,  recognised 
Belamy,  good  friend,  Fr. 
Beld,  L.  231,  help,  protect.     Belde,  bold 
Belyve,  afterward,  soon,  by  and  by 
Bemen,  A.  1850,  trumpeters,  Sux. 
Ben,  be,  are.     Ben,  A.  4318,  well,  good,  bien,  Fr. 
Bende,  AA.  1133,  bonds,  bondage 
Bendel,  R.  2964  band,  stripe,  handeau,  Fr. 
Beneme,  Benime,  tike  away,  Sax. 
Benison,  Benzown,  SS.  3485,  benediction,  Fr, 
Beode,  A.  3605,  carry,  Sax. 
Beoknowe,  see  Beknawe 
Beoryng,  A.  8000,  burying,  funeral 
Beoth,  be,  are,  is 
Berande,  bearing 

Berdes,  AA.  15,  birds,  hence  metaphorically  young  men 
Bere,  AA.  1122,  bear  upon,  allege,  accuse 
Bere,  A.  550,  roar,  noise,  cry.    See  Jamieson's  Diet,  in  voce 
Berfreyes,  A.  2777,  wooden  towers  used  in   sieges,  befroi, 

O.  Fr. 
Beriele,  SS.  2598,  burial,  tomb.     Beryng,  A.  4624,  burying 
Bernes,  bairns,  children 

Beryng,  A.  484,  lap.    The  Latin  printed  copy  says  gremium. 
Barm  (which  see)  is  still  a  provincial  term  with  the  same 
meaning. — D.    On  eorthe  in  the  beryng,  A.  2594,  on  the 
lap  of  earth 
Beryse,  C.  198,  berries. 
Bes,  bese,  be,  bis,  Germ. 

Besans,  A.  1572,  golden  coins,  so  called,  because  they  were 
first  coined  at  Byzantium  or  Constantinople ;  the  value  has 
been  generally  estimated  at  fiffy  livres  tournois  ;  but  from 
a  passage  in  Joinville,  it  is  evident,  that  in  his  time  it  did 
not  exceed  ten  sols ;  while,  from  other  ancient  writers,  it 
seems  to  have  been  sometimes  worth  twenty.  See  Roque- 
fort, voce  Brsan 
Beseke,  beseech 

Besemyd,  I.  354,  seemed,  appeared 
Best,  beast      Bestyn  kyng,  O.  478,  king  of  beast* 

With  best,  A.  73o3?  in  the  best  manner 

vol.  nr.  b  b 


386  GLOSSARY. 


Bestad,  beslead,  circumstanced 

Beswyke,  R.  5918,  cheat 

Besy,  busy 

Bet,  better.     Bet,  R.  657,  kindled.    Ac  they  no  might  no 

wors  beo  bet,  A.  1009,  but  she  could  not  be  worse  treated. 
Bet,  A.  6028,  bidding,  instruction 
Bete  my  bale,  Am.  46,  abate  my  sorrow.    Bete  his  nede,  A. 

5065,  abate  his  necessity 
Bethe,  both 
Betrast,  R.  4139,  trust 
Bette,  O.  1073,  rather 
Bewreke,  wreak,  revenge 
Bewreyn,  Bewrye,.  bewray,  betray,  accuse 
Bey,  O.  388,  bay.     Beyst,  O.  805,  bayest 
Beyghed,  A.  4372,  bowed,  bent,  Sax. 
Beyghes,  gems,  rings,  crowns,  beak,  Sax. 
Bicache,  catch,  deceive 
Bicchen,  A.  5394,  bitches 
Bicleft,  clipped,  embraced,  Sax. 
Biclosed,  inclosed 
Bidde,  offer,  Sax. 
Bide,  abide,  remain 

Bidelue,  dig,  bury.     Bidoluen,  buried,  digged,  Sax. 
Bifold,  L.  172,. folded 
Big,  build,  Sax. 
Bigge,  A.  6707,  buy 
Bigradden,  A.  5175,  bewept,  lamented 
Biheueded,  beheaded 
Bihight,  promised.     Bihote,  promise,  Sax. 
Biked,  A.  2337,  fought.     Biker,  fight,  Sax. 
Bilapped,  wrapped  up  ;  AA.  1014,  environed 
Bilaue,  remain.     Bileft,  Bileued,  remained ;  A.  5311,  dwelling 
Bilayn  aboute,  besieged  around 
Bilef,  quickly,  suddenly 
Biment,  L.  298,  bemoaned 
Binim,  take  away 

Biradietb,  A.  3739,  counselleth,  Sax. 
Birde,  bride,  young  lady,  damsel,  Sax. 
Birie,  bury 
Biscoie,  SS.  1287,  perhaps  we  should  read  bistorc,  the  same 

as  astore,  used  as  a  mere  expletive 
Bisen,  SS.  507,  besee,  look  about 
Bisyhed,  business 

Biteche,  deliver,  recommend,  give  in  charge  to 
BilUenche,  bethink,  think  of,  contrive 
Biwake,  SS.  2761,  2578,  watch,  guard 


GLOSSARY.  387 


Biwite,  A.  5203,  know,  Sax. 
Biwraie,  see  Bewreyn 
Biwope,  SS.  1186,  biwept,  full  of  tears 
Bigete,  begotten 

Blanis,  A.  6292.     (The  Bodl.  MS.  reads  bleynes) 
Blasten,  A.  5348,  blowed,  breathed 
Blaun,  R.  6526,  white,  Fr. 
Blawen,  blow 

Blefede,  O.  507,  beleved,  remained 
Blent,  A.  2109,  started,  shrunk,  Sax. 
Blere,  R.  3708,  blind.     Bleryd,  I.  1420,  blinded 
Blethliche,  blithly,  gladly 
Blinne,  cease,  stop,  Sax. 
Blisted,  L.  173,  blessed.     Blisteing,  blessing 
Blithe,  glad 

Blomen,  0. 1330,  1406,  trumpeters,  horse-keepers,  grooms? 
Biyde,  O.  109,  blithe,  glad,  Sax. 
Blyne,  leave  off,  cease,  Sax. 
Blyssyd,  R.  546,  wounded,  blesse",  Fr. 
Blyf,  Blyve,  quickly,  Sax. 
Bo,  Am.  644,  both 
Bobaunce,  ().  1550,  boasting,  Fr. 
Bobbed,  SS.  2246,  cheated,  deceived 
Bocher,  butcher 

Boceleris,  A.  1190,  bucklers,  shields 
Bod-word,  message,  Sax. 

Bode,  R.  1359,  message,  offer,  Am.  685,  bidding,  command. 
Bode  our  bede,   R.  3592,    bade  our  bidding,  addressed 
our  prayer.     Boden,  R.  1205,  commanded.      For  boden 
bite  ich  woman,  Sec.  L.  91,  I  blame  every  woman,  as  far- 
bidden  to  speak  harm  of  another  ? 
Boie,  Boies,  SS.  503,  executioner,  executioners,  Fr. 
Boilouns,  SS.  2480,  2488,  bubbles  in  boiling-water 
Bois,  SS.  420,  woo' i,  Fr. 
Bol,  Bole,  bull 

Boldith,  A.  2468,  emboldeneth 
Bole-axys,  O.  1023,  pollaxes 
Bolte,  bolt,  arrow,  Sax. 
Bon,  R.  1625,  see  Bonn 

Bonair,  Boneiv,  debonair,  civil,  courtly,  de  bon  air,  Fr. 
Bonie,  A.  3903,  fair,  valuable.    This  is  probably  the  oldest  in- 
stance of  the  use  of  this  word.     See  Jaraieson's  Diet,  in  voce 
Boon,  R.  1540,  good,  fair,  bon>  Fr. 
Boon  ne  lyre,  0. 1119,  bone  nor  skin.     See  Lere 
Boost,  boast,  noise,  Sax, 
Boot,  O.  329,  bit 


388  GLOSSARY. 

Bord,  A.  1270,  border  of  the  shield,  Sax. 

Borde,  table,  Sax.     Bordis  eynde,  A.  7362,  end  of  the  table. 

Stood  to  bord,  R.  2531,  2543,  stood  on  the  board,  or  side 

of  the  vessel 
Bore,  born 
Borel,  A.  5475,  a  dress  made  of  a  kind  of  coarse  woollen  stuff 

of  a  brown  colour,  burel,  O.  Fr. 
Bores,  SS.  1156,  pores 
Borwe,  AA.  420,  see  Bour 
Borwe,  borrow,  pledge.     Borwe,  A.  4523,  redeem,  pledge, 

Sax. 
Boschayle,  O.  1607,  thicket,  wood,  Fr. 
Bost,  A.  4068,  R.  4237,  boast,  noise,  Sax.     Bostodyn,  A. 

2597,  boasted 
Bot,  O.  1146,  bit 

Bote,  but,  unless,  except,  butan,  Sax. 
Bot,  Bote,  boot,  remedy,  recompense,   Sax.    He  that  is  bot 

of  bale,  Am.  185,  he  that  is  remedy  of  evil  (i.  e.  God) 
Botemay,  Botemeys,  A.  6189,  6206,  bitumen 
Bothes,  A.  3457,  booths 
Botileres,  butlers 
Botyng,  see  Bo',  Bote 
Bouk,  A.  3254,  3946,  body,  Sax. 
Bouked,  A.  6265,  protuberant,  crooked 
Boun,  Bowne,  Bound,  ready,  prepared,  bound  for,  directed 
Bour,  Bower,  chamber,  house,  Sax. 
Bourde,  O.  171,  L.  9,  joke,  jest,  game,  Fr. 
Bowchyer,  O.  398,  butcher 
Bowes  Turkeys,  Turkish  bows 
Bowes,  A.  4074,  bows 
Bowiers,  bowyers,  archers 
Bownes,  bones 

Bowsumly,  SS.  3459,  buxomly,  obediently 
Boydworde,  Am.  70,  sec  Bod-worde 
Boystous,  A.  5660,  O.  405,  boisterous,  rough,  Sax. 
Braide,  SS.  1152,  A.  5856,  drew,  pulled.     Braided,  A.  5856, 

struck,  Sax. 
Brandellet,  R.  322,  some  part  of  the  armour 
Brayde,  R.  411,  struck.     Brayde  of,  O.  336t  tore  off,  bit  oft 
Brayde,  snbst.  R.  3954,  start,  R.  216,  stir,  confusion 
Braydyng,  A.  7373^  spreading  out,  ubr<rdant  Sax. 
Breche,  A.  2168,  breaking,  fracture 
Bredale,  marriage-feast,  Sax. 
Brede,  bread.      Bredc,  breadth.     The  schyppys  bredc,  R 

2560,  the  deck  of  the  ship  ? 
Brede,  R.  3613,  A.  5249,  roasted  or  baked 


GLOSSARY.  389 

Brede,  A.  3322,  broad,  A.  3252,  extended,  Sax. 

Bregen,  SS.  1261,  break 

Bregge,  bridge 

Breken,  broke 

Breme,  Am.  171,  brim,  furious,  Sax. 

Brennyng,  burning,    Sax. — A.    4881,  throwing  out   flames, 

Brende  gold,  R.  3349,  burnished  gold 
Breny,  see  Bruny 
Breue,  O.  533,  Breve,  brief,  short 
Brewis,  see  Brouwys, 
Breyd,  Am.  726,  start,  rapid  motion.     In  a  breyde,  C.  418, 

in  a  hurry,  rapidly 
Brid,  A.  7997,  bird,  Bryddes,  5249,  birds. 
Bridale,  see  Bredale 
Bride,  A.  76z6,  bridle,  Fr. 
Bi  mi,  see  Bi  uny 

Broches,  A.  6848,  R.  2067,  originally  the  clasp  of  a  buckle, 
subsequently  it  was  applied  to  the  buckles  themselves,  and 
probably  to  all  kinds  of  ornaments,  Fr. 
Brond,  brand,  sword.     Roquefort,  quite  in  the  style  of  French 

etymology,  deduces  brand  from  frangere 
Brond,  torch,  Fr. 

Brone,  brown.     Brouneth,  A.  2393,  becomes  brown 
Brouke,  R.  4578,  brook,  enjoy,  use,  Sax. 
Broulti,  AA.  2469,  brought 
Brouwys,  R.  3077,  broth,  Sax. 
Browu,  H.  83,  broad 
Browen,  brewed 
Bruggen,  bridges.     Of  hurdles  of  bruggen  they  made  flores, 

A.  6104,  they  made  floors  of  bridges  with  hurdles.    E. 
Bruny,  A.   1869,   breast-plate,  cuirass ;    birne,  Sax.  brunia, 

brunne,  brinne,  Teut.  brugne,  brunie,  O.  Fr. 
Bryddis,  birds 
Brygge,  bridge 
Brym,  O.  931,  eyebrows 
Brymme,  A.  5157,  brim,  border,  margin,  Sax. 
Brynke,  H.  58,  bring 
Bu,  A.  5957,  ox  ;  beuf,  Fr.  bos,  Lat. 
Buciiches,  bunches 
Bugles,  A.  5112,  buffaloes. 

Burd,  see  Burde.  When  the  burdes  wawen  alle,  A.  1164, 
when  all  the  beards  wave,  i.  e.  shake  with  laughter.  This, 
and  the  preceding  line,  as  Mr  Warton  observes,  from  a 
rhyme  well  known  at  this  day.  It  occurs  in  Swift's  Polite 
Conversation.  ' 

Burdis,  SS.  717,  turnament,  Burdised,  SS.  742,  justed.    Bu- 


o(J0  GLOSSARY. 

hurd,    Tent,   behordium,  Lot.  med.  cevi.,  behourd,  Fr.   bo- 
hordOy  Span,  bagordo,  Ital. 

Burdys,  R.  4317,  boards,  beams 

Biirias,  burgesses,  citizens 

Bus,  SS.  3150,  bel.oves 

Buske,  prepare,  make  ready 

But,  see  Bot 

Buth,  be,  are 

Bwon,  boiin,  bound,  prepared 

By,  A.  3174,  for.     By  tha,  T.  140,  with  that 

Bybled,  A.  3843,  stained  with  blood 

Bycache,  A.  258,  conceal,  cacher,  Fr.  Bycanght,  A.  4815, 
4534,  caught,  entrapped 

By  clupputh,  A.  7146,  chppeth,  embraceth 

Byd,  pray 

Bydagged,  A.  548G,  splashed 

Bydeolve,  A  8017,  buried 

Bygates,  A.  2136,  gettings,  spoil,  plunder 

Bygge,  A.  5494,  buy 

Byghes,  A.  6694.     See  Beyghes 

Byhest,  promise.     Byhoting,  promising 

Byhoit,  Byhuld.  behold 

Byker,  A.  166l,tighi,  battle,  quarrel,  Sax, 

Byknowe,  A.  2964,  acquainted  with.  Byknowne,  A.  1140,  ac- 
knowledged 

By  lace,  A  33r>7,  caugld,  beset,  las,  Fr.  a  snare 

Bylaue,  A.  3541,  Bylef,  Byleve,  iema*n,  Sax. 

Bylayn,  R.  lit 9,  lam  by,  copulated  with.     See  Bilayn 

Byieved,  A.  4468,  weak,  wounded,  gehtvun,  Sax.  Per- 
haps it  may  merely  mean  that  some  remained  or  lay  on  the 
grouud 

By  byleys,  A.  4550,  as  an  incitement  ?  We  should  probably 
read  with  the  Bodleian  MS.  By  my  lejs,  by  n  y  law,  or  re- 
ligious faith 

Bymenith,  A.  7058,  bemoaueth.  Bymenyd,  I.  744,  Byment, 
pitied,  bemoaned 

Byname,  A.  5875,  took  away,  Sax.  Bynomen  that  ilke  men, 
A.  6108,  look  away  from  those  same  men 

Byreveu,  A.  6601,  bereaved,  deprived. 

Bys,  be 

Bysayen,  A.  4605,  served  ?    The  Bodl.  MS.  reads  Byseighen 

Bysemare,  dishonour,  reproach,  deiision,  infamy,  Sax.  On 
bysemare,  A.  648,  in  evil  part 

Byshett,  shut  up 

Byspekith,  A.  94,  counselleth 

Byswyke,  A.  4609,  deceive,  Sax. 


GLOSSARY.  391 

Bytake,  A.  7532,  give.     Bytaught,  I.  568,  888,  gave,  gave  in 

charge  to 
Byweved,  A.  1085,  woven,  wrought 
Bywrye,  A.  4372,  Bywryghen,  betray,  discover 

Calk  trappen,  A.  6070,  chalk  or  lime-pirs  to  serve  for  traps  ? 
The  word  caulk  is  still  used  for  chalk  in  the  north  of  Eng- 
land, ccalc,  Sax. 
Caluz,  A.  5950,  bald ;  ehauve,  Fr.  kahl,  Germ. 
Campeson,  R.  376,  see  Gaumbison 
Can,  ken,  know ;  began ;  frequently  a  mere  expletive 
Canel,  A.  6794,  cinnamon 
Carayne,  A.  6469,  carrion 
Careful,  sorrowful 
Carellys,  C.  103,  carols,  dances,  Fr. 
Carf,  carved,  cut 

Caries,  A.  6695,  carats,  a  standard  of  gold 
Carolyng,  dancing,  Fr. 
Carve,  carved,  cut 

Caste,  SS.  2105,  purpose,  contrivance.     Cast,  A.  3475,  con- 
trived.    Hir  heorte  cast,  A.  242,  set  her  mind  upon 
Castelet,  SS.  2754,  turrets,  small  castles  on  the  walls,  O.  Fr\ 
Catayl,  R.  1 407,  a  sort  of  vessel 

Calel,  catell,  R.  1546,  AA.  1855,  O.  803,  Am.  244,  properly 
goods,  valuable  things  of  all  sorts ;  but  in  these  passages 
it  evidently  means  money 

Caufte,  AA.  2455,  caught 

Cayscr,  emperor 

Cayvars,  A.  6062,  ships  deeply  hollowed  ? — D. 

Cee,  sea 

Cent,  O.  1463,  hundred,  Fr. 

Cert,  Certes,  certainly,  surely 

Chaftar,  Chaffere,  R.  2468,  2024,  merchandise,  goods,  Sax. 

Chaise],  A.  279,  SS.  1814,  an  upper  garment,  chaisel,  O.  Fr. 

Chalen,  A.  4834,  chill,  cold 

Chane,  A.  2228,  fell,  O.  Fr. 

Chappyd, R.  chopt 

Charmed,  enchanted,  conjured 

Charrey,  A.  5097,  carts,  O.  Fr. 

Chast,  A.  241, 1797,  0. 219,  chastise,  correct,  warn,  instruct,  Jr. 

Chaumpe  bataile,  A.  2553,  battle  in  the  plain  field,  pitched 
battle 

Che,  H.  she 

Cheaps,  R.  1897,  numbers,  see  Chepe 

Chek,  O.  1746,  checked,  as  in  the  game  of  chess  ;  hence  me- 
taphorically, killed 


392  GLOSSARY. 


Chclde,  A.  5501,  chill,  cold,  Sax. 

Cheorlis,  A.  6749,  churls,  rustics,  Sax. 

Chepe,  O.  820,  bargain.    Chepe,  A.  2656,  Cheapside  in  Lon- 

dou,     Cheperie,  O.  389,  marketed,  sold.     Chepeing,  AA. 

1700,  1720,  1722,  market 
Chere,  A.  798,  I.  99,  Chers,  SS  404,  countenance,  face.  All 

of  on  chores,  A.  1306,  of  one  mind 
Chose,  chose 

Chesoun,  A.  3930,  4009,  occasion,  motive,  Fr. 
Chest,  A.  7050,  cha<te 

Chest,  Chest  e,  A.  3565,  R.  5143,  O.  754,  debate,  anger 
Chevynteyn,  A.  3199,  chieftain 
Chike,  SS.  2159,  chicken,  child 
Clulde,  v.  A  604,  610,  to  bring  forth  a  child 
Chinche,  SS.  1244,  stingy,  avaricious,  Fr. 
Chiiche-hawe,  SS.  2625,  churchyard,  Sax, 
Chis,  A.  3294,  chose 
Chounge,  O.  793,  exchange 
Chyn,  Chyne,  A.  3934,  3977,  chine,  back 
Chystes,  chests 

Claranens,  C.  100,  clarinets,  or  bells,  from  clarain,  O.  Fr.  r. 
Claire,  R.  3625,  a  compounded  wine,  Fr.  see  Notes,  p.  310. 
Clawes,  scratches,  strokes,  Sax. 
Cfeov<  s,  cliffs,  rocks,  Sax. 

Clepe,  Clepen,  call  for,  require  ;  call,  name,  Sax, 
Cier,  SS.  2242,  polished,  resplendent.     Clers,  clear 
Clergy,  lea'iiing 
Cleven,  cliffs,  rocks,  Sax. 
Clew,  clawe <%  scratched,  Sax. 
Clodys,  O   329,  clothes 
Clong,  R.  1385,  clung,  or  fastened  together  ? 
Clotter,  H.  211,  clothier.     Clottys,  H.  92,  clothes 
Clout,  R.  768,  blow.     Clought,  C.  264,  to  clout,  beat 
Ciowen,  A.  2765,  cleaved,  cut  down 
Ciuppyng  dipping,  embracing,  Sax. 
Clyuen,  cliffs,  rocks,  Sax. 
Cogges,  R.  4785,  a  v>  ssel  of  which  the  name  may  still  be 

traced  in  the  term  cock-boat 
Coinoun,  A.  1718,  coward,  scoundrel,  a  term  of  reproach; 

coyon,  Fr.  coglione,  Hal. 
Cokedrill,  crocouile 
Cokkes  bones,  H.  117,  \2>7,  an  oath  very  frequent  in  Chaucer, 

corrupted  from   God's  bones.     See  Canterbury  Tales,  v. 

12629 
Cole,  O.  800,  colt.    Cole  brond,  A.  6121,  a  coal  burnt  out 


GLOSSARY.  393 

Colueren,  A.  5405,  culvers,  doves 

Colyeres,  O.  495,  coiners 

Coraburment,  A.  472,  7765,  incumbrance,  molestation 

Come,  A.  275,  1146,  coming,  arrival 

Comoun,  R.  3106,  the  town  ?  La  commune,  O.  Fr.  the  bur- 
gesses ot'ilie  city  ?aken  together,  aiso  a  township 

Compissement,  A.  1345,  compassment,  contrivance,  Fr, 

Comusiovv,  comest  thou 

Comyn,  A.  6132,  7563,  common,  promiscuous,  mutual 

Con,  Conne,'Couaon,  Conon,  know ;  be  able ;  gan,  began 

Conande,  Am.  700,  covenant 

Conceyved,  A.  2204,  beuaved 

Cunjurison,  conjurations,  magic 

Conseylynde,  counseling 

Conteke,  contest,  quarrel 

Copiner,  SS.  2225,  lover,  Sax, 

Coiant,  A.  3461,  running,  Fr, 

Cord,  A.  411,  accord 

Corfu,  SS.  1429,  Corfour,  1456,  curfew-time,  couvrefeu,  Fr, 
a  clock  which  was  sounded  from  seven  to  nine,  evening, 
to  warn  the  people  to  retire  to  tneir  homes  and  extinguish 
their  fires 

Corn,  choice,  chosen,  Sax. 

Cornells,  embrasures  on  the  walls  of  castles,  Fr. 

Corneris,  A.  7210,  we  should  certainly  read  Cornellis 

Coiounal,  R.  6219,  the  coronal  or  iron  point  on  the  head  of 
a  spear,  Fr. 

Corour,  courser  ;  courreur,  Fr. 

Corps,  R.  1954,  corse,  body.     Cors,  A.  7386,  course 

Corsere,  O.  811,  a  horseman 

Corteysear,  C.  13,  more  courteous 

Corven,  corvyn,  carved,  cut ;  A.  6088,  cutting,  Sax. 

Costage,  Am.  444,  cost,  expence,  Fr. 

Covent,  L.  124,  convent,  Fr. 

Couer  ot,  Am.  752,  defend  from 

Covertour,  A.  7718,  coverlet ;  A.  3213,  covering,  or  perhaps 
armour  for  a  horse,  Fr. 

Coverye,  A.  7533,  to  take  care  of,  couvreer,  O.  Fr.  from  cm- 
rare,  Lat. 

Countours,  R.  1940,  counters,  pieces  of  gold 
^  Couth,  O.  792,  acquaintance  ;   known.     Make  couth,  make 
known.   Cowde,  I.  506,  knew 

Cowtte,  H.  45,  cot,  cottage 
^Coye,  O.  1344,  1345,  decoy 
,  Coyntise,  A.  1431,  dexterity,  cunning  ;  a  studied  queint  dress 

Cracheing,  SS.  876,  878,  scratching 


394  GLOSSARY. 

Craffe,  knowledge 

Oaken,  see  Reisons  craken 

("rakes,  SS.  3532,  croakers,  crows,  ravens 

Crape,  crept 

Creaunt,  R.  5319,  craven,  recreant 

Creature,  R.  3110,  creator 

Crieynges,  A.  6843,  prayers 

Cristenyng,  A.  8034,  Christian  faith 

Croched,  A.  7099,  crooked,  croche'e,  Fr. 

Crokes,  A.  6193,  4879,  wiles 

Crolle,  A.  4164,  curled 

Crop,  A.  621,  craw,  belly  ;  A.  688,  probably  top,  croppa,  Sax. 

Crope,  crept 

Crope,  H.  208,  Croupe,  crupper.  Croper,  A.  3421,  R.  388, 
the  housings  on  the  crupper 

Crossed.  He  is  crossed  a  pilgrim,  R.  2121,  he  has  taken  the 
cross,  which  was  the  badge  of  a  pilgrimage  to  the  Holy 
Land  ;  croisies,  Fr. 

Croude,  A.  609,  press  down 

Croudewain,  AA.  1858,  a  cart 

Croun,  AA.  614,  the  circle  of  hair  produced  by  the  ecclesi- 
astical tonsure 

Croupe,  A.  5186,  craw,  belly 

Croys,  cross,  Fr.  Croyserie,  R.  1378,  crusade,  Fr,  Croyssyd, 
see  Crossed 

Crud,  AA.  1861,  1883,  crouded,  carted 

Crye.     Do  make  crye,  I.  614,  cause  to  make  proclamation 

Cubur,  A.  2359,  cover,  cubert,  O.  Fr. 

Culver,  R.  556,  dove 

Cumpanyable,  R.  3805,  sociable,  friendly,  Fr, 

Cungyr,  conger 

Cunnand,  cunning,  knowing 

Cunne,  see  Con 

Cuntrere,  A.  4891,  country 

Curreye,  A.  5118,  waggon  trtiin.  Curre,  O.  Fr.  a  kind  of 
watrgon 

Curtayse,  Curteis,  courteous 

Cnsse,  kiss 

Cuyl,  R.  the  posteriors,  cut,  Fr. 

Dabbe,  subst.  A.  7304,  a  blow.   Dabbe,  i.  c.  to  cut,  thrust, 

knock 
J)aie,  SS.  945,  die 
Daies-eyghe,  A.  7511,  daisy 
Dalt  his  dale,  A.  13,  dealt  out  his  dole 
Dame,  A.  5026,  dam,  parent 


GLOSSARY.  395 

Dan,  O.  than 

To  Darie-ward,  A.  1775,  toward  Darius*  The  meaning  of 
these  lines  is  probably,  as  explained  by  Mr  Ellis :  "  Alex- 
ander placed  his  bailiff  in  Tyre  to  keep  the  town  for  him, 
and  then  proceeded  speedily  towards  Darius  ;  but  was  slop- 
ped on  his  way  by  many  battles." 

Darstow,  darest  thou 

Darth,  A.  3287,  dare 

Dashen,  Dassclie,  to  make  a  great  show,  to  invade  suddenly, 
to  move  quickly.  They  dasschen  over  into  the  feldis,  A. 
7381,  they  ride  away  to  take  their  distance 

Dathet,  AA.  1569,  cursed.  Datheir,  SS.  2395,  a  curse,  an 
imprecation,  the  same  as  O.  Fr.  deshuit,  dchait,  dalut 

Dawe,  A.  2256,  day.  Brought  of  dawe,  A.  6091,  brought, 
or  taken  fiom  day,  i.  e.  killed.     Dawe,  dawn,  Sax. 

Day  and  other  and  thrid  upon,  A.  5052,  one  day  and  another, 
and  a  third  after  that 

Day  nous,  I.  1122,  disdainful,  Fr. 

De,  O.  the 

A  Debles  !  R.  to  the  devil !  au  diable,  Fr. 

Decayued,  SS.  109,  deceived 

Dede,  Deede,  death,  dead.     Dedys,  O.  1714,  deaths 

Dedwt,  SS.  560,  pleasure,  Fr. 

Dedyr,  O.  1222,  thither 

Defaute,  Defawte,  A.  6,  default,  want,  Fr. 

Defence,  A.  7237,  prohibition,  Fr. 

Defoille,  A.  246o,  faint,  dtfaitler,  Fr, 

Deghghe,  die 

Dele,  R.  2220,  share,  part,  Sax.  Every  dele,  every  part, 
all.  A  thousand  delis,  A.  172,  a  thousand  parts,  i.  e.  on 
all  sides 

Delf,  dig,  Sax. 

Delfyns,  dolphins 

Delices,  A.  6799,  pleasures,  delights,  Fr. 

Delivere,  A.  2774,  the  proposition  of  or  from  is  here  implied 
in  the  first  syllable  ot  the  word  deliver.  Dehverid  lieoni, 
A.  1319,  rid  themselves  out  of,  passed  out  of 

Demayne,  A.  7561,  possession,  Fr. 

Deme,  O.  226,  doom,  judge,  Sax. 

Demene,  R.  456,  manage,  Fr. 

Demere,  A.  7295,  tarry,  Fr. 

Dempt,  doomed,  judged 

Demeynith,  A.  787,  guideth,  demener,  Fr. 

Demorraunce,  A.  4123,  demur,  delay,  Fr. 

Denk,  O,  1063,  1333,  think 

Denned,  A.  3664,  uimied,  sounded.    Mr  Douce  suggests  that 


396  GLOSSARY. 


it  may  rather  siguify  struck,  as  the  shipwright  strikes  on  the 
nail ;  dinegan,  Sax.     See  Jamieson's  Diet,  voce  Ding. 

Deol,  lamentation,  deuil,  Fr.    Deoleth,  A.  2734,  sorroweth 

Departed,  divided 

De  per  deus,  A.  7656,  by  God,  de-par-dieu,  Fr. 

Derai,  SS.  946,  probably  the  transcriber's  mistake  for  Delai 

Dei  ay,  R.  502,  6481,  6603,  disarray,  confusion,  noise,  vio- 
lence, fight,  desrois,  Fr.  Deraye,  R.  5456,  Derayne,  R. 
7098,  v.  quarrel,  fight  for 

Dere,  harm,  hurt,  Sax.  No  that  his  no  thyn  no  dere,  A. 
7296,  that  neither  his  men  nor  thine  should  be  hurt.  That 
feol  Da?  ie  to  lyves  dere,  A.  4531,  that  befel  to  the  loss  of 
Darius's  life 

Derenes,  SS.  3144,  attachment,  love,  Sax. 

Derenge,  A.  2534,  derange  ;  or  perhaps  throng,  push,  thrust 

Dereyne,  A.  7353,  7356,  agreement,  arbitration,  Fr. 

Derrere,  I.  1796,  dearer 

Derye,  A.  3657,  6191,  hurt,  harm,  Sax. 

Des,  R.  1097,  canopy,  throne,  raised  seat ;  generally  the  high 
table  elevated  above  the  others,  Fr. 

Deschargid,  A.  3868,  deprived  of  the  charge 

Deepens,  dispence,  expenCe,  Fr. 

Despout,  SS.  dispute 

Desse,  C.  361,  see  Des 

Destaunce,  R.  1670,  1763,  3252,  O.  1523,  1821,  pride,  dis- 
cord, rreachery 

Destrere,  A.  851,  a  war  or  tilling  horse,  destrier,  Fr.  dex- 
trarius,  Lat.  called  so  because  it  was  not  generally  mount- 
ed except  in  battle  or  tournament,  but  led  by  tue  squire. 
The  use  to  which  it  is  applied  in  verse  801  of  Kyug  Aly- 
sannder,  viz.  hunting  horse,  is  improper,  and  the  word  is 
probably  introduced  for  the  sake  of  the  rhyme 

Destuted,  A.  2199,  destitute,  wanting 

Deuere,  Devers,  R.  5015,  duty,  devoir,  Fr. 

Deuoutement,  O.  63,  devoutly,  Fr. 

Devoyde,  R.  1228,  void,  leave 

Devyse,  R.  594,  espy,  get  a  knowledge  of 

Deys,  see  Des.     Deys,  A.  3297,  dice 

Deyse,  O.  1525,  day 

Dight,  Dyght,  described,  divided,  decorated,  decked.  Dight, 
117,  to  act,  address,  or  dispose  one's  self,  Sax. 

Discryghe,  descry,  understand 

Discoverte,  A.  7418,  the  uncovered  part,  Fr. 

Disours,  R.  3749,  tale-tellers  ;  diseurs,  Fr. 

Dispence,  A.  3026,  expencc,  A.  2616,  necessaries  of  life. 
O.Fr. 


GLOSSARY.  397 

Disray,  A.  4353,  clamour.  Stedes  disraying,  A.  673,  irregu- 
lar fighting  on  horseback.  Disray  (desrois,  O.  Fr.)  is  op- 
posed to  array. 

Distrene,  A.  1679,  destrain,  enforce,  Fr. 

Do,  cause  j  A.  4519,  done,  acquired.  Do  in,  A.  3282,  put. 
in.     Do,  O.  872,  tho,  then 

Doel,  grief,  deuil,  Fr. 

Doghte,  O.  1574,  thought 

Dole,  alms 

Doluen,  digged,  buried,  Sax, 

Dome,  doom,  judgment.  At  his  dome,  A.  2606,  under  his 
jurisdiction 

Don,  A.  1216,  R.  1193,  cause,  caused.  Hy  ne  done  thereof, 
A.  5460,  they  care  nothing  about  it 

Don,  down 

Doned,  dinned,  sounded,  Sax. 

Dongon,  Donjoun,  prison  ;  SS.  1975,  a  tower 

Dore,  O.  649,  thore,  tiiere 

Dosele,  SS.  1150, 1152,  the  faucet  of  a  barrel,  dosil,  duisil, 
O.Fr. 

Dotaunce,  fear,  doubt,  uncertainty,  O.  Fr* 

Doth  heom,  A.  856,  do  them ;  a  Gallicism  translated  from 
the  common  phrase  se  rendre 

Dotous,  doubtful,  JPV. 

Dow,  O.  836,  thou 

Dowayn,  A  mantle  of  Dowayn,  A.  280,  a  mantle  from  Douay, 
a  Flemish  mantle 

Downe,  Am.  done 

Drad,  adread,  afraid,  Sax. 

Drake,  Drakis,  dragon,  dragons,  draco,  bas.  Lot.  draca,  Sax, 

Drappe,  O.  567,  drop 

Drawe,  Hang  and  drawe,  hang  and  quarter 

Dreden,  A.  7232,  to  make  afraid,  Sax. 

Dregh,  SS.  2660,  suffered  ;  dreed,  Scotish  dialect 

Drenche,  drown,  Sax. 

Dressed,  A.  479,  directed,  Fr.  Of  he  dressed  necke  and 
swyre,  A.  1937,  up  he  raised  head  and  neck 

Drew,  O.  209,  threw 

D»  ewerye,  A.  2214,  friendship,  love,  O.  Fr. 

Dreynt,  drowned,  Sax. 

Drit,  A.  4718,  dirt 

Droff,  R.  4315,  threw 

Drogman,  interpreter,  Fr. 

Dromouns,  (dromones,  Lat.  from  J'gojuutr,  cursor)  swift  sailing 
ships.  This  word  very  often  occurs  in  old  French  roman- 
ces.    "  En  cele  navie  avoit  soixante  dix  galies  et  autres 


o98  GLOSSARY. 

dromons  charsriez  et  carnies  de  qumque  mestier  estoit  a  la 
vile  deffendre."  G'lillaume  de  Tyr,  fo!.  215,  8vo.  From 
this  passage  it  would  appear  that  dromouns  were  always 
ships  of  war. 

Drongtr,  Drowen,  Drewen,  Drw,  Am.  74,  draw,  drew,  drawn, 
Sax.     Diowe  ate,  A.  1205,  drew  up,  drew  out 

Druri,  gallantry,  courtship,  merry  life,  drueriey  O.  Fr. 

Drury,  A.  4289,  dreary,  Sax. 

Dryght,  A.  6139,  6402,  our  lord,  drichten,  Sax.  trcchtin,  Teut. 
No  mon  tell**  no  myghte  of  here  folk  bote  our  dright,  A. 
6139,  No  one  could  count  the  numbers  of  their  people  but 
our  lord. 

Dryuen,  \.  192,  drive,  urge,  press  forward 

Drywery,  A.  2999,  see  Druri 

Dub.  Thar  body  dubbeth,  A.  4311,  jrird  on  their  arms,  Sax. 
Dubbyng  feste',  O.  1274,  fast  to  celebrate  the  dubbing  of 
a  knight.     Hir  hed  was  gayly  dubed,  SS.  3233,  i.  e.  dressed 

Dudyn,  did 

Dunt,  dint,  blow 

Dure,  A.  575,  endure,  Fr.  Dure,  A.  6688,  hard,  cruel,  Fr, 
Duresse,  O.  hardness,  cruelty,  Fr. 

Durre,  dare.  Such  him  thretith  no  durre  him  seen,  A.  1993, 
such  as  threaten  him  (at  a  distance)  dare  not  look  on  him 
(when  near) 

Duyre,  A.  3262,  endure,  Fr. 

Duzeyn,  dozen 

Dwelle,  remain.  Gif  he  with  tale  dwelle,  A.  225,  if  he  hesi- 
tate Ions:  with  his  tale  or  account  of  himself 

Dwon,  H.  169,  down 

Dych,  A.  6632,  ditch ;  here  the  crater  of  the  volcano  is  meant 

Dyder,  O.  237,  thither 

Dyght,  see  Dight 

Dykke,  A.  1028,  thick 

Dyll,  dele,  part 

Dyng,  beat 

Dynt,  blow,  stroke 

Dyren,  endure 

Dysours,  A.  6990,  tale-tellers.    So  in  Dives'  Pragm.  1563  : 
"  For  players  and  mummers,  garments  and  vysours  ; 
Cockscombes  and  hoods,  and  gay  cotes  for  dyzours.** 
And  in  Gower's  Confessio  Amanlis,  Lib.  vii. 
"  And  every  dyssour  had  seyde." 

Dystaunce,  R.  1686,  3210,  see  Destauncc 

Eche,  A.  60^6,  to  add,  Sax. 


GLOSSARY.  399 

Ederlyng,  A.  1711,  relations  ;  edor,  Sax.  domus.    We  should 

perhaps  read  Elderlyng 
Eddren,  A.  7028,  address 
Eem,  Erne,  uncle 
Efft,  Et'te,  often,  afterward,  again.     Eftsone,  soon  afterwards, 

by  and  by 
Egge,  A.  1271,  edge 
Eggenges,  O.  688,  incitement,  temptation,  used  in  Chaucer's 

Canterbury  Tales,  v.  10,009 
Eghen,  Eighen,  eyes 
Eghwar,  A.  6754,  ever 
Eghte,  SS.  2097,  Ehtey  A.  1507,  Eighte,  SS.  1101,  goods, 

possessions,  property,  Sax. 
Eire,  heir 

Ek,  Eke,  also,  even 
Eker,  A.  6175,  6202,  watercresses,  eaccrs,  Sax.     It  may  in  a 

more  general  sense  mean  weeds 
Elboryn,  A.  7851,  probably,  as  Mr  Douce  conjectures,  the 

celebrated  wine  of  Albano,  so  frequently  mentioned  by 

Pliny 
Elde,  R.  6236,  age.     Elde,  adj.  old,  Sax. 
Elderynges,  O.  806,  Eldiyngis,  A.  4948,  parents,  ancestors, 

Sax. 
Ellis,  else,  otherwise,  Sax. 
Elne,  ell 
Erne,  uncle,  Sax. 
Emoten,  A.  6566,  emmets 
Emperales,  O.  1911,  imperials,  a  coin 
Emprise,  SS.  2507,  undertaking,  O.  770,  number 
Enantyr,  R.  484,  against 
Encheson,  occasion,  cause,  reason 
Encombrement,  Encumbrere,  incumbrance,  molestation 
Ender  day,  other  day.    This  endrys  yere,  I.  850,  the  other 

year 
Eudlest,  A.  57,  eleventh 
Engyneful,  Enyynous,  crafty,  cunning 

Enherited,  A.  7153,  gave  the  inheritance  of to 

Ennesure,  A  5543,  game  ? 
Ensaumple,  example 
Ensemble,  R.  3754,  company,  Fr. 
Ensoyne,  R.  1467,  excuse,  ensoing,  Fr. 
Entaile,  SS.  2671,  place,  stead 

Entaile,  A.  4672,  R.  5669,  sculpture.    The  term  is  best  ex- 
plained by  the  following  quotation,  where  entaillcres  means 

sculptor  or  engraver: 


400  GLOSSARY. 

u  Pigmalion  fust  entailleres 

Pourtraiant  en  fust  et  en  pieres, 

En  metaus,  en  os  et  en  cires, 

Et  en  toutes  autres  matires." — Roman  de  la  Rose. 

Entailed,  for  carved,  is  used  by  Chaucer 
Entent,  understanding.     Entented,  attended  to 
Enteyle,  O.  1020,  workmanship,  Fr. 
Entermetyd  of  this  dome,  A.  4025,  took  part  in,  interfered 

with  this  judgment ;  s'entremit  de  cejugement,  Fr. 
Entyrement,  I.  1541,  interment 
Eorneth,  A.  2732,  runneth,  Sax. 
Eorthliche,  earthly 

Er,  0. 1808,  former.     Er,  ere,  before 
Ermyng,  A.  1525,  grieving,  the  participle  of  yrmian.  Sax. 
As  Ermes,  O.  1629,  aux  armes,  Fr. 
Em,  O.  196,  eagle 

Ernen,  A.  5003,  earn,  take,  overtake,  Sax. 
Erst,  before,  Sax. 
Ertow,  art  thou 
Est,  O.  1369,  host 

Estellacioun,  A.  589,  astrology,  O.  Fr. 
Estre,  A.  5467,  5468,  Esteris,  being,  condition,  Fr. 
Evensonge,  vespers,  Sax. 
Eventour,  adventure 
Evenyng,  A.  3008,  equal,  Sax. 
Everich  also,  &c.  A.  37 SO  to  3734,  each  of  his  companions  in 

the  same  manner  attacked  his  opponents,  in  such  a  manuer 

that,  &c. 
Euerilkane,  Everylkon,  every  one.     Everydele,  every  part 
Evetis,  A.  6126,  efts,  a  kind  of  lizards 
Evorye,  ivory 
Eye.     For  love  ne  eye,  R.  602,  Neythyr  for  love  neythyr  for 

eye,  R.  1476,  for  love  nor  fear.     We  stode  swilke  eye,  R. 

3609,  we  stood  in  such  fear       1  * ..*  A- 
Eyghe,  Eyglmen,  Eyghnyn,  eyes.    By  eyghe,  A.  7267,  by  sight 
Eyghte,  A.  3885,  possessions,  Sax. 
Eyre,  heir 

Fable,  R.  3806,  idle  discourse,  Fr. 

Face.    No  face  it  is,  R.  2256,  it  is  no  liarm,  of  no  consequence 

Fachoun,  falchion,  sword,  Fr. 

Fagh,  H.  223,  faught 

Faire.    The  thridden  dale  and  faire,  A.  5161,  a  good  third 

part,  rather  more 
Faired,  A.  212,  213,  Fairehed,  beauty: 


GLOSSARY.  401 

"  Of  gent  faired,  lewd  and  lerid, 
Geven  hire  pris  of  the  myddel  erd  ;" 
i.  e.  Both  unlearned  and  learned  (all  raaukind)  gave  her  the 
price  of  beauty  above  all  the  world 

Fairye,  A.  6924,  enchantment,  fairyism 

Falewe,  fallow.  Falewe,  adj.  R.  4807,  high,  eminent?  from 
faloise,  O.  Fr.  eminence,  height  ? 

Falle,  A.  7183,  7186,  felled  down,  made  to  fall 

Faloun,  R.  4310,  felon,  wicked,  Fr. 

Famen,  foes,  Sax. 

Fane,  R.  3893,  banner,  Sax. 

Far,  R.  817,  Fare,  AA.  516,.  552,  702,  behaviour,  condition, 
ado.  With  all  that  fare,  A.  7982,  is  a  useless  expletive. 
Fare,  Faren,  behave.  Fared,  Fain,  Ferd,  AA.  1466,  be- 
haved. Farand,  I.  282,  behaving.  Faresfow,  farest,  be- 
havest  thou.  Fare,  Faren,  go,  pass  ;  A.  2441,  as  they  (the 
deer)  go.  Fareth,  A.  236,  passeth,  goeth  away.  Farant, 
A.  3460,  walking,  Sax. 

Farly,  see  Ferley 

Fase,  foes 

Fast,  R.  1800,  festival 

Fattys,  R.  1491,  vats 

Favasour,  see  Vavasour 

Fawe,  O.  307,  fain,  glad,  Sax. 

Fawte,  fault,  want,  Fr. 

Fay,  faith,  Fr. 

Fayn,  glad,  joyful.    Thyn  fayn,  A.  3392,  thy  best 

Fazoun,  fashion,  appearance 

Fedde,  A.  3064,  faught,  (for  the  rhyme's  sake) 

Fedeme,  Fedme,  fathom 

Feer,  fire 

Feide,  A.  97,  feud,  war  ;  or  perhaps  a  league,  from  foedus,  Lat. 

Feildyn  contraye,  A.  3398,  in  flat  country ;  or  perhaps  we 
should  read  in  field  yncontrayet  i.  e.  encountred,  met,  en- 
contre,  Fr. 

Felawrede,  fellowship,  company,  Sax. 

Felde,  A.  3492,  felt 

Fele,  Feles,  many.  Twoo  so  fele,  R.  3128,  twice  as  many. 
Fele  sithe,  many  times,  Sax. 

Fellich,  felly,  cruelly 

Felun,  felon,  wicked,  cruel,  Fr. 

Fen,  A.  3965,  4087,  AA.  1883,  earth,  mire,  mud,  Sax. 

Feng,  caught,  received,  Sax. 
.  Fensable,  R.  defensible 

Feo,  A.  7973,  fee,  land  of  inheritance 

VOL.  HI.  cc 


402  GLOSSARY. 


Foel,  Feole,  many,  feala,  Sax.  fell,  cruel,  Sax.    Feol,  A.  379, 
befel,  happened,  Sax. 

Feondes,  fiends,  enemies 

Feorne,  A.  6356,  distant,  far,  Sax. 

Fer,  Fere,  A.  6441,  fire.  To  the  fer,  SS.  1765,  1774,  for  the 
fire 

Ferd,  A.  6673,  power,  force 

Ferd,  1.  1419,  Fere,  K.  3177,  terrified,  afraid 

Ferde,  A.  5579,  host,  army,  Sax. 

Ferde,  A.  1572,  flowed,  faran,  Sax. 

Fere,  A  A.  2412,  fair.  In  fere,  together,  in  company.  Fere, 
companion,  wife.  Fendes  fere,  O.  905,  the  devil's  compa- 
nion, Sax. 

Ferede,  Ferhede,  Ferrede,  R.  1920,  2775,  2278,  people,  com- 
panions.    Ferhede,  A.  3060,  companionship 

Ferly,  Ferliche,  wonder  ;  wonderfully,  strange,  Sax. 

Fern,  Wei  fern,  O.  477,  well-faring,  upright,  true  men 

Ferrest,  farthest 

Fers,  R.  2599,  fierce,  strong,  Fr. 

Ferth,  fourth 

Fesched,  fetched 

Feste,  A.  184,  SS.  475,  fist ;  SS.  3993,  fastened 

Fete,  R.  3024,  fit,  proper 

Feverel,  February,  Fr. 

Feute,  Fewte,  fealty,  Fr. 

Feylo,  fellow,  companion 

Feyntise,  invention 

Ficicion,  physician 

Fil,  Fille,  fell,  befel.     Fille,  A.  19,  many,  Sax. 

Fin,  end,  Fr. 

Firther.  No  mowe  they  firther  ben  to  don,  A.  4318,  they 
cannot  well  advance  farther.  The  Bodl.  MS.  reads  tuel  to 
done 

Flagel,  R.  6682,  flagelet,  Fr. 

Flang,  flung,  rushed 

Flatt,  R.  5265,  stroke  with  the  flat  side  of  the  sword 

Fleen,  R.  6926,  fly.     Fleigh,  flew 

Fleme,  A.  4341,  flight.     Flemeth,  A.  3548,  flyeth,  Sax. 

Flemed,  SS.  3474,  flamed,  burnt 

Flen,  A.  1734,  flay 

Flenne,  fly,  Sax.     Fleoth,  flies 

Flet,  Flett,  fleet,  quick 

Flette,  A.  1105,  1807,  the  flat,  the  ground;  A.  2378,  field  of 
battle 

Fley,  Fleyd,  Flodeden,  A.  2441,  fled,  flew 

Finnic,  flood,  sea,  river,  jtu?nc?iy  Lat.  /v 

5 


GLOSSARY.  403 

Flon,  Flone,  A.  785,  R.  2189,  arrows,  Sax. 

Floryng,  R.  5868,  florin,  a  coin 

Flour,  Maisteiis  flour,  A.  421,  flower  of  science 

Floyne,  O.  1486,  1671,  a  species  of  vessels 

Flum,  A.  3402,  6404,  Flun,  river 

Flumbardyng,  A.  1788,  6700,  a  fiery  character ;  (flambardus, 
Lab.)  from  flambard,  a  flaming  coal,  a  torch.  In  more  mo- 
dern times,  the  word  spark  was  substituted.  The  will  o'  the 
wisp  was,  for  the  same  reason,  denominated^aw&aj's,  in  O.  Fr. 

Flyght,  A.  1634,  flight  of  arrows 

Flyng,  proceed  rapidly,  rash 

Foddyng,  (fadung,  Sax.)  distribution,  division,  partition,  dis- 
position. *  Twelve  foddyng  to  thes  yere,'  A.  48,  twelve  di- 
visions of  the  year.  Perhaps  the  reference  is  to  the  signs 
of  the  zodiac  being  called  houses  in  astrology  ;  and  this  ex- 
plains the  ensuing  line, '  The  yere  to  lede,'  i.e.  lead,  guide 

Fode,  AA.  57,  557,  man,  person.  Frely  fode,  Am.  580,  well- 
bred  person.     See  Rits.  Rom.  III.  380. 

Foder,  A.  645,  burthen,  Sax. 

Foisoun,  plenty,  Fr. 

Fol,  Fole,  foolish.     Folen  fesle,  SS.  2748,  feast  of  fools 

Fon,  Foon,  foes 

Fond,  Fonde,  R.  1249,  3776,  4402,  AA.  29,  551,  1869,  try, 
meet  wiih,  receive,  Sax.  sometimes  a  mere  expletive.  At 
that  half  fondeth  heom  to  doute,  A.  3431,  on  the  side  of  the 
river  where  they  lay ,  they  experience  no  fear 

Fonge,  receive,  take,  Sax.     Fongeth,  A.  6469,  feedeth 

For,  A.  3295,  fur 

Forbare,  R.  419,  forbore,  lost 

Forbarre,  R.  3514,  bar,  prevent  from  coming  in 

Forbarnd,  A.  7559,  burnt,  Sax. 

Forbot,  Am.  694,  forbid 

Forbrent,  O.  216,  burnt,  Sax. 

Forby,  A .  5487,  past,  Sax. 

Forcaif,  R.  1926,  cut 

Force,  R.  1383,  strong,  Fr. 

Forcer,  SS.  2038,  chest, /order,  O.  Fr. 

Forcrased,  SS.  724,  crazy,  mad 

Fordo,  undo,  destroy 

Fordryvon,  Am.  470,  driven 

Fordytte,  R.  4170,  the  ditch  undone,  filled  up 

Fore,  Hem  fore,  A.  1657,  for  them  all.     At  one  fore,  A.  2355, 

at  one  taring  or  going,  at  once 
Foreheued,  forehead 
Foreship,  the  forecastle  of  the  ship 
Forewarde,  R.  604,  covenant 


404 


GLOSSARY. 


Forfare,  L  884,  destroyed,  Sax. 

Forfered,  afraid,  terrified,  Sax. 

Fo.tlytte,  Am  381,  filled,  scorned,  scolded 

Fonrette  R  297.  part  of  the  armour.  Probably  the  tram- 
scribe's  mistake  for  Gorget,  or  Gorger,  armour  for  the  neck 

Fortno,  I.  1428,  -pare,  lose 

Force  ed,  A.  1366,  beheaded 

Fonole.  concealed,  helan,  Sax. 

Forlet,  R.  379,  A.  t889,  lost,  abandoned,  Sax. 

Forlevn,  R.  924,  953,  lain  by,  copulated  with 

Forlok   Am.  373,  it  lsluck,  ill  fortune  ? 

Forme'  SS.  1424,  former.     Forme  fadir,  A.  1292,  forefather 

Formerwarde,  Formewarde,  A.  7786,  5733,  vanguard 

For-press  prist  down,  fallen  down  For  nei.h  by  weren 
bothe  for  thurst  astrangled  and  eke  for-prost,  A.  5098, 
for  they  were  nearly  strangled,  and  also  fallen  down  for 

thirst 
Fors.,ke,  A.  748,  leave,  omit,  Sax. 
Foiso.le,  Forsoth,  truly 
Forswelte,  A.  7559,  killed,  Sax. 
Fort,  A.  7710,  st.ong,  Fr.  SS.  239,  before ;  SS.  1335,  for  to, 

till  that 
Forth,  A.  5200,  forwards 
Forihenke,   grieve,   blame.     Forthoght,   blamed,    R.   2423, 

grieved 
Fortheis,  A.  4980,  further  on 
Forthy,  for  ihaf,  therefore,  Sax. 
For-lo,  A.  5363,  5399,  till,  Sax. 
Fortop,  O.  933.  ha  r  on  the  forehead 
Forwakyd,  tired  With  want  of  sleep 
Forward,  covenant,  agreement,  Sax.— vanguard 
Forvelde   I.  841,  yield,  requite,  reward,  Sax. 
tZ.Z:  Fo.l.nt   K.  1798?*095,  SS.  843,  O.  1«J,  ««•  »' 

start,  immediately.     See  Tynvhytt's  Chancer,  ed.  1798,  4to. 

Vol   II   P  442 
Fother,  A.  1819,  6467,  R.  1732,  literally  a  weight  of  19  cwt. 
hence  metaphorically  a  great  number  or  quantity,  a  bur- 

I  1  C        <Y» 

Foul,  A.  2524,  fowl,  bird.     So  foul  on  treo,  A.  3551,  as  a  bird 

on  a  tree,  i.  e.  living  in  idleness 
Founde,  A.  4003,  found  guilty.     Founden  wyght,  A.  4607, 

foundling.     Fornde,  Am.  52,  go 
Fonntstone,  R.  baptismal  font 
Fouite,  R.  fourteen 

Fowayle,  R.  1471,  1475,  fuel,  provisions 
Fowre  so  gud,  Am.  351,  four  times  as  good 


GLOSSARY.  40£ 

Franche,  SS.  3012,  language  in  general,  in  the  same  manner 
as  Latin  was  frequently  applied 

Frasched,  R.  bruised,  cut  to  pieces,  froisser,  Fr. 

Frape,  R.  2513,  4546,  strike,  smite,  Fr. 

Fraught,  freight 

Frayel,  R.  1 549,  a  frail,  a  basket  for  packing  figs  in,  fraiau, 
O.  Fr. 

Fredde,  SS.  1514,  fe\tt  freddan,  Sax. 

Freeholdande,  R.  1259,  freeholder 

Freet,  A.  7114,  devoured,  Sax. 

Freke,  A.  2161,  worthless  fellow,  Sax. 

Fremd,  strange,  foreign,  Sax. 

Frendeleser,  more  friendless 

Frendrede,  Freondrede,  Freondhed,  friendship 

Freo,  A.  3317,  free,  liberal,  noble 

Frere,  friar  ;  A  A.  16,  brothers,  Fr. 

Fret,  A.  703,  devoured.     Frelen,  devour,  Sax. 

Fieyns,  L.  225,  French 

Frise,  A.  1372,  perhaps  Frise,  Friezland,  which  is  mentioned 
as  being  under  Darius's  dominion,  in  another  part  of  the 
romance 

Frith,  wood,  forest 

Frome,  A.  5356,  perhaps  wilderness  j  frau,  fros,  O.  Fr.  uncul- 
tivated ground,  heath 

Fronst,  A.  1630,  wrinkled,  fronser,  Fr. 

Froyt,  fruit 

Fruscne,  A.  1814,  crush,  froisser,  Fr. 

Fryst,  first 

Fuatted,  A.  6447,  flatted.     The  same  in  both  MSS. 

Fultrust,  R.  4172,  trussed  full,  filled  up 

Funston,  L.  222,  baptismal  font 

Furchure,  A.  4995,  6316,  the  legs,  properly  the  place  where 
the  thighs  part,  fourchure,  Fr. 

Fure,  A.  4223,  fire,  flame 

Furford,  A.  3814,  far  fry de,  Sax.  The  only  shadow  of  mean- 
ing I  can  assign  to  these  two  lines  is,  that  Alexander  had 
made  him  a  Ion?  passage  through  the  enemy,  by  the  point 
(ord)  of  his  spear. — E. 

Furneye,  furnish 

Fuysouns,  plenty,  Fr. 

Fygeres,  A.  5784,  figtreeSj/gwir,  Fr. 

Fyke,  R.  4749,  to  move  in  an  unconstant,  undeterminate  man- 
ner.    See  Dr  Jamieson  in  voce 

Fyle,  A.  880,  O.  293,  vile,  or  foul 

Fyn,  Fyne,  A.  7897,  finish,  Fr.  Fyn,  A.  6625,  subst.  end. 
Fyning,  A.  8016,  ending 


406  GLOSSARY. 

Fynder,  Behcldeth  me  therof  no  fynder,  A.  4794,  do  not  look 

on  me  as  the  inventor 
Fynne,  Am.  700,  line,  true ;  or  perhaps  finished,  concluded, 

fin6,  Fr. 
Fynt,  finds 

Gabbe,  A.  4967,  tale,  story,  lie;  A.  1805,  gab,  prate,  mock, 
deceive.  Gabbuth,  A.  1805,  prate  In,  jeereth,  gabir,  O.  Fr. 
gabbare,  Ital. 

Gade,  SS.  2638,  Gadclyn?,  A.  1733,  idle  vagabond,  Sax.  To 
sone  thenketii  the  lowe  gadelyng,  A.  4063,  the  idle  vaga- 
bond thinks  it  too  early  to  rise 

Gaderyng,  R  3229,  gathering,  engagement 

Gaff  him  to,  R.  245,  addicted  himself  to.  Of  him  nought  gaf, 
A.  3896,  gave  no  heed,  paid  no  attention  to  him 

Gage,  A.  7236,  defiance 

Gahchyd,  R.  827,  gashed,  scratched 

Gale,  A.  2548,  7008,  song,  story  ;  A.  2047,  noise ;  R.  3546, 
prayer ;  galan,  literally,  to  sing,  Silt. 

Gamenen,  A.  5461,  play,  joke 

Ganely,  R.  4017,  readily,  the  word  is  still  used  in  the  north  of 
England 

Gandes,  SS.  3957,  wiles,  mischievous  designs 

Gangle,  A.  7413,  make  a  noise,  jangler,  Fr. 

Garde,  caused,  from  gar,  Sax. 

Gare,  R.  6409,  ready,  the  word  is  used  by  Gawin  Douglas; 
See  Yare 

Gare,  AA.  1353,  sword? 

Gargaze,  A.  3636,  neck,  throat,  mouth,  gargate,  O.  Fr. 

Garniment,  garment 

Garsouus,  A.  2505,  pages,  Fr. 

Garte,  caused 

Gavelock,  javelin,  spear,  Fr. 

Gaum  bison,  A.  5151,  a  stuffed  doublet,  worn  under  the  ar- 
mour, O.  Fr. 

Gayned,  R.  4643,  availed 

Gede,  yede,  went 

Gef  nought  therof,  A.  875,  did  not  care  about  it 

Gefthe,  gift 

Geltif,  SS.  856,  guilty 

Gendryth,  engendereth 

Gene,  H.  266,  given 

Genner,  A.  57,  January,  Jenner,  Germ. 

Gent,  neat,  pretty,  gallant,  Fr. 

Geoter,  A.  6735,  caster,  jettcurj  Fr. 

Ger,  make,  cause,  Sax. 


GLOSSARY.  407 

Ger,  Gere,  manner,  furniture,  geer 

Gerdoles,  girdles 

Gerr,  caused,  made ;  O.  333,  gave 

Gert,  R.  1086,  4014,  pushed,  pierced 

Gest,  C.  472,  &c.  play,  song,  romance,  story,  description,  ac- 
tions, deeds 

Gest,  O.  75,  guest.  Gest-halle,  L.  258,  hall  for  the  guests  in 
a  nunnery.  Gestnyng,  A.  1779,  Gestuyng,  A.  1161,  feast- 
ing 

Getarnys,  guitars,  Fr. 

Geth,  L.  142,  SS.  1295,  goeth;  in  the  latter  instance  for 
helpeth 

Gif,  if 

Gilofre,  A.  6796,  cloves,  girofle,  Fr. 

Gilowre,  SS.  3954,  beguiler.     Gilry,  SS.  3957,  guilery,  deceit 

Ging,  A.  1509,  army,  Sax. 

Ginne,  engine,  tool,  contrivance 

Gird,  A.  2272,  girdle.    The  Line.  Inn  MS.  reads  gurdil 

Gladsum,  C.  30,  pleasant,  Sax. 

Glede,  flame,  fire,  burning  coal,  Sax. 

Glent,  R.  529o,  1076,  glode,  glided,  felt 

Gleo,  glee,  mirth,  Sax. 

Gleomen,  A.  1152,  Glevmen,  A.  5256,  minstrels,  Sax. 

Glode,  R.  5306,  glided,  fell 

Glose,  R.  3806,  flatter,  Fr. 

Glouted,  R.  4771,  pouted,  looked  surly  ;  a  provincial  word  in 
Scotland  and  the  north  of  England  to  this  day 

Glyt,  glides 

Gnave,  Gnowe,  gnaw,  gnawed 

Goande,  going 

Godemau,  SS.  3869,  landlord 

Godes,  R.  4375,  goads,  whips  ? 

Godhede,  goodness.  The  meaning  of  line  7058 — 7060  is — 
"  Alexander  bemoaned  (pitied)  them,  that  they  had  not 
manhood  added  to  their  other  goodness  (good  qualifications) 

Godus,  A.  762,  gods 

Gomes,  AA.  1308,  men 

Gonfanoun,  banner,  standard,  Fr. 

Gong,  SS.  1217,  privy,  Sax. 

Good,  And  we  of  all  good  distresse,  R.  2764,  and  we  have 

distress  (want)  of  all  goods  (articles) 
Gorgen,  A.  5625,  devour,  eat,  Fr. 
Gorger,  A.  3636,  R.  323,  armour  for  the  throat,  O.  Fr. 
Gorisoun,  AA.  2449,  page,  young  man,  garson,  Fr. 
Gos,  go 
Gossibbe,  L.  42,  fellow  godfather 


408  GLOSSARY 

Gounfanoun,  see  Gonfanoun 

Gowles,  O.  1481,  gules,  red 

Gradde,  Gradden,  Grade,  Graden,  cried,  cry,  scream,  Sax. 

Graith,  SS.  3670,  ready.     Graithly,  readily 

Grame,  AA.  657,  sorrow,  grief,  anger,  Sax.  Hou  godes  grame 
come  to  tonne,  SS.  2703  ?    Grame,  AA.  214,  angry,  grim 

Gramercy,  grant  mercy,  great  thanks,  Fr. 

Gras,  SS.  658,  grace,  FrT 

Grattes.  The  grat:es  maysters  yede  him  heforne,  Am.  306, 
he  had  in  his  youth  the  greatest  masters  to  teach  him  cour- 
tesy 

Grave,  Am  241 ,  inter,  bury,  Sax.     Grauen,  buried 

Grave,  A.  3155,  graven,  engraved,  carved 

Gravkynsr,  A.  5413,  graying,  dawning,  Sax. 

Gr.  yd,  L.  329,  SS.  3873,  see  Graithed 

Gre,  Ghee,  degree,  prize,  first  rank,  Fr. 

Gred,  A.  64,  declare  ;  R.  481,  cried,  Sax.  Gredeth,  A.  142, 
screameth.     Gredyng,  AA.  6634,  lamenting 

Grede,  SS.  1802,  lap  ;  A.  4187,  4196,  breast  of  the  mantle, 
greaday  Six. 

Gregeys,  Greek,  Fr. 

Greithe,  Greithen,  get  ready,  prepare,  Sax. 

Grenn,  H.  159,  erin,  snarl 

Grented,  A.  5846,  grunted 

Grep,  R.  4737,  irripe,  lay  hold  of 

Gres,  giease.     Grcse,  I.  370,  game 

Grete,  I.  1789,  1527,  much,  many 

Grete,  AA.  1530,  we  should  probably  read  greue,  i.  e.  grave 

Greted.  Tiie  lady  areted  with  yonge  bon,  A.  452,  the  lady 
became  great  with  a  young  child.  Bone  is  often  used,  par- 
ticularly in  scripture,  for  the  whole  man 

Greth,  grace,  peace,  Sax. 

Grette,  Am.  708,  cried.     Gretten,  A.  5696,  greeted 

Grevyng,  R.  6584,  grieving,  troublesome 

Greyd<%  O.  1 227,  prepared 

Greyt,  Am.  750,  grace,  favour.     See  Grith 

Greythith,  A  4136,-prepare,  Sax.     Grey  thy  d,  R.  1496,  ready 

Grifhoundes,  greyhounds 

Griffouns,  R.  Greeks 

Grille,  A  A.  657,  1275,  horrible 

Gripes,  A.  4880,  griffons 

Griputh,  "raspeth 

Gr/st,  A.  3295,  a  species  of  gray  fur,  Fr. 

Grishch,  grisely,  dreadful,  Sax. 

Grith,  Gryth,  R.  746,  1617,  2234,  4685,  O.  1786,  grace,  Sax. 

Groin,  Groom,  man-servant 


GLOSSARY.  409 

Gronne,  A.  12,  grunting 

Grope,  A.  1957,  gripe,  lay  hold  of 

Grusle,  R.  2144,  gristle 

Gruf ,  R.  4339,  gravel  ? 

Gryngen,  A.  4443,  grind 

Gryp,  Gryyp,  A.  6345,  O.  447,  griffon 

Grys,  shudder,  tremble,  Sax. 

Grytii,  see  ,Grith 

Guddevon,  Am.  110,  goon  even.    Gud  sette,  A.  6267,  well 

set 
Gult,  gilt 

Guode,  good.     Guodhede,  AA.  2493,  good  heed,  goodness 
Guodded,  A.  2374,  spotted,  stained 
Gurd,  girt,  smitten,  Sax. 
Gwinris,  A.  7244,  guides,  guignour.  O.  Fr. 
Gwon,  gone,  go 
Gye,  A.  7925,  guide,  govern 
Gylyng,  guile,  beguiling 
Gyinmes,  A.  3132,  6694,  gems 
Gyng,  A.  922,  R.  4978,  army,  Sax. 
Gyune,  engine,  contrivance,  craft  (In  A.  607,  the  astrolabe 

of  Nectanabus  is  alluded  to) 
Gynours,  engineers 

Gyoures,  A.  4810,  guides,  guyer,  O.  Fr. 
Gypon,  O.  1029.  a  short  cassock,  Fr. 
Gyrdyl-steed,  R.  6784,  the  place  where  the  girdle  is  put  on, 

the  waist 
Gysarme,  A.  2307,  O.  1614,  hand-bill,  halbert,  ax,  O.  Fr, 
Gyues,  O.  222,  fetters 

Ha,  H.  art.  a,  an 

Habbe,  Habbeth,  have.    Habbe,  A.  2793,  hold,  habban,  Suae. 

Habide,  SS.  3150,  abide 

Habitacle,  R.  habitation,  Fr. 

Had,  O.  hath 

Haile,  A.  7036,  wholesome,  Sax. 

Haileth,  SS.  1541,  aileth 

Hailsed,  embraced,  greeted,  Sax. 

Hait,  happy,  joyful,  O.  Fr. 

Hak,  O.  1217,  ac,  but.    Hak,  SS.  587,  hew,  Sav. 

Hakenay,  C.  245,  a  horse  for  travelling,  -Sax. 

Hakes,  Am.  55,  hawks 

Hale,  whole,  well.    Hale,  v.  cure,  Sax. 

Halen,  A.  992,  1416,  hawl  up 

Half,  side,  part.    In  bothe  half,  on  both  sides,  Sax. 

Halle,  A.  2327,  all 


410  GLOSSARY. 

Hals,  neck,  throat,  Sax. 

Halt,  A.  6619,  holds.     Halt,  SS.  541,  probably  halp,  helps 

Halve,  part,  side.     Halvendall,  A.  7116,  half,  Sax. 

Ham,  O.  them,  Sax. 

Hame,  skin,  see  Haums 

Han,  hence.     Han,  A.  6757,  have 

Hans,  To  gode  nans,  A.  1571,  2935,  in  great  quantity ;  lumsa, 
multitude,  Goth. 

Har,  hair.     It  hath  wytt  or  har,  A.  5025,  it  has  wit  or  sense 
before  it  has  hair 

Hardes,  R.  1871,  hurdles 

Hardye,  Ha'dieth,  A.   1264,  6925,  3343,   make  hardy,  em- 
bolden, encourage,  Fr. 

Hare,  O.  1092,  their 

Harme,  About  his  harme,  A.  2824,  for  the  purpose  of  doing  him 
harm 

Harl,  heard 

Has,  A.  5564,  as 

Haselrys,  A.  3293,  hazle-bush,  Sax. 

Hat,  A.  3270,  hot.     Hat,  0. 1819,  Mas  called,  Sax. 

Hater,  A.  4264,  7054,  attire,  cloathing,  hatron,  Sax. 

Haums,  A.  385,  skin,  hama,  Sax. 

Haumudeys,  A.   1707,  probably  corrupted  from  aumoniere, 
Fr.  a  purse.     See  the  Notes,  p.  299 
1    »»   Haunte,  R.  4761,  pursue 
t  Hawberk,  mail-armour,  Fr. 

Hawen,  hawlhorn-berries.     Haw-tree,  hawthorn 

Hayd,  O.  119,  hath 

Hay  11,  whole 

Hayward,  A.  5756,  probably  a  person  set  to  guard  the  hay 
while  laying  in  the  fields 

He,  A.  5206,  5280,  6885,  they;  L.  161,  178,  she 

Hebben,  have,  Sax. 

Hedde,  hid 

Heden,  heathen 

Hedlyng,  A.  2261,  C.  355,  headlong 

Heeld,  held,  retained 

Heet,  commanded,  Sax. 

Hef,  A.  2297,  heaved  up.     Open  hefd,  SS.  206,  bare-head- 
ed, Sax. 

Heft,  SS.   259,  command,  restraint ;   haft.  Germ,  captivity. 
Hacftling,  Sax.  a  captive 

Hegliche,  highly.     Heglh,  high 

Hegge,  hedge,  Sax. 

Hei,  A.  5625,  they 

Heigheing,  On  heigbeing,  L.  214,  in  haste,  Sax. 


GLOSSARY.  411 


Heind,  hand 


Heir,  A.  6495,  hair 
Hel,  R.  6045,  hill 

Helde,  R.  346,  heheld  ;  R.  791,  hold 
Helde,  SS.  336,  be  covered,  disappear,  Sax* 
Hele,  A.  6885,  7659,  hide,  conceal,  Sax. 
Helen,  A.  4959,  caves,  Sax. 
Helieth,  A.  1048,  hide,  or  perhaps  drink  healths  ? 
Helte,  SS.  2140,  poured,  rilled 
-  Helue,  SS.  384,  haft 
«»Helyd,  R.  7005,  covered,  Sax. 
Hem,  them.     Hemselves,  themselves,  Sax. 
Hen-ay,  R.  2841,  hen's  egg,  Sax. 
Hende,  civil,  courteous,  Sax.     Hendely,  courteously 
Hende,  R.  1206,  AA.  1583,  1593,  near.     Hende,  R.  4033, 

hent,  seized 
Henge,  hung 

Hent,  take  hold  of,  receive,  caught,  received,  Sax. 
Heo,  he,  she,  they.     Heom,  them,  him.     Heore,  their,  Sax. 
Heolyng,  A.  6188,  covering,  Sax. 
Heote,  ordered,  Sax. 
Hepe,  To  Hepe,  on  a  heap,  crowded 
Her,  hair,  their,  her,  here.      Her  flok,  A.  5411,  the  flock 

of  them 
Herbegage,  1. 1349,  lodging,  harbouring,  Fr. 
Herber,  garden,  arbour 
Herberowe,  dwelling,  lodging,  Sax. 
Herd,  herdsman ;  AA.  501,  relation,  tale,  from  hearing  ? 
Herdestow,  heardest  thou 
Here,    their  ;  A.  5221,  hire,  reward ;    A.  2101,  army,  Sax. 

With  great  heres,  A.  5265,  in  great  numbers 
Herethe,  O.  1689,  praiseth,  Sax. 
Herne-panne,  R.  5293,  brain-pan,  scull,  Sax. 
Herste,  L.  162,  hearest 
Herte,  hurt 
Herteles,  heartless  ;  R.  4410,  without  compassion 

Hery,  O.  1059,  cry  out,  praise,  Sax. 

Heryng,  A.  6589,  heron 

Heste,  command,  Sax.    That  n'ul  no  Phelippes  heste,  A.  1330, 
that  will  not  obey  Philip's  command 

Hestris,  A.  7611,  condition,  state,  estre,  O.  Fr. 

Hete,  Am.  440,  promise,  Sax. 

Hethenesse,  country  of  the  Heathens,  Sax. 

Hething,  SS.  91,  Am.  18,  contempt,  Sax. 

Hette,  commanded,  named,  was  called.  Sax. 

Heuer,  SS.  1135,  ever 


412  GLOSSARY. 

Heved,  head,  Sax. 
Hext,  A.  7961,  highest,  Sax, 
Heyen,  eyes 

Heying,  R.  707,  haste,  Sax, 
Hi,  I,  they,  Sax. 
Hide,  skin,  Sax. 

Highth,  A.  6884,  promised,  Sax. 
Himpe,  SS.  see  Ynipe 
Hilde,  AA.  2302,  covered,  Sax. 
-  Hilt,  A.  1270,  the  handle  of  the  shield 
Hing,  hung 
Hint,  AA.  1325,  hit 
Hirten,  hurt 
His,  SS.  is 
Hit,  it.     Hit  was,  A.  379,  was  this 

*  Hiwe,  A.  5678,  hew,  colour,  Sax. 
Ho,  A.  6218,  wiiO 

Hoboles,  O.  1598,  a  species  of  light  horse 

Hod,  hood,  cap,  helmet.     Of  his  hod,  A.  216,  his  cap  off 

Hokerfulliciie,  L.  61,  full  of  frowardness,  Sax. 

Hoket,  A.  7000,  playthinff,  hochet,  Fr. 

Holde,  A.  2912,  fidelity.^    Of  his  own  holdyng,  AA.  3302, 

vassals  who  held  their  lands  of  him 
Holdyn,  I.  1849,  beholden 

Hole,  O.  1355,  concealed,  Sax.     For  hole,  A.  7349,  wholly 
Holt,  grove,  wood,  Sax.     Holtes  hare,  AA.  507,  hoary,  grey, 

dark  woods 
Horn,  Am.  H.  them 
Hond,  O.  1530,  hound 
Hond,  Honden,  Hondyn,  hand,  hands.     On  honde,  to  hand. 

Hond-habbing,  A.  4204,  SS.  691,  taken  with  the  stolen 

goods  in  hand,  taken  while  perpetrating  the  crime 
Honde,  hend,  courteous 

Honde,  A.  2066,  disgrace,  honte,Fr.  Or,  perhaps,  "  An  honde 
v        nam"  means,  made  an  engagement  (by  giving  his  hand)  \% 

kill  Alexander 
Honest,  A.  68  i,  noble,  honourable,  Fr, 
^Hongi,  hang.     Hongoi:,  hung 

•  *Hont,  A.  6531,  haunt 

Hool,  whole 

Hoped,  SS.  2812,  thought,  Sax. 

Hor,  Am.  their 

Hordes,  A.  932,  points  of  spears,  Sax. 

Hore,  A.  5031,  adj.  hoary.     Hore,  A.  6752,  subst.  a  hoary  old 

man.     Hore,  A.  1597,  v.  become  hoary,  Sax. 
Hostell,  A.  7171,  lodging,  Fr, 


GLOSSARY.  413 

»  Hote,  Hight,  commanded,  Sax.    Hoten,  called,  Sax. 
Hote,  heat 

Hove,  R.  301,  325,  hover,  slay,  Sax.    Houeden,  hovered 
Houen,  A.  5889,  heaved 
Houle,  A.  6331,  owl 

Houndes,  A.  6000,  Anthropophagi  are  here  meant 
%  Hountis,  O.  891,  hunt 
Hour,  O.  869,  our 
Hous,  A.  619,  constellation 
Houf,  out 

How,  care,  uneasiness,  Sax. 
Howen,own 
Hower,  R.  1714,  probably  (rythmi  gratia)  for  hire,  possession, 

as  indeed  the  P.  C.  reads  , 

Howsewold,  household 
Hoyd,  R.  557,  hovered,  abode 
Hudde,  hid 
Huel-bone,  R    62,  whale-bone,  probably  mistaken  for  the 

ivory  of  the  narwhal's  horn,  see  Notes,  p.  350. 
Hnl,  Halle,  hill 
Huld,  Hulden,  held 
Hur,  H.  her 
Hus,  Am.  H.  us 
Hurdices,  A.  2785,  Hurdys,  R.  3969.  6127,  hurdles,  scaffolds, 

palissades,  ramparts,  fortifications  ;  hourdiez,  hourdis,  O.  Fr. 
Hy,  Hye,  they,  she,  Sax. 

Hye,  In  hy,  in  hye,  in  haste.     Hyee,  I.  1017,  quickly 
Hyde,  A.  458,  usually  a  measure  of  land ;  here  in  general  a 

field,  Sax. 
Hye,  A.  4750,  fare,  see  Hy 
Hyyihe,  hasten,  Sax.     Hyght,  was  called,  Sax. 
Hynd,  A.  5200,  Hyndforth,  A.  4710,  backwards,  Sax. 
Hynde,  hende,  courteous,  Sax. 

Hyne,  O.  673,  hind,  fellow,  servant,  Sax.  plur.  Hynen,  Hynys 
Hynkynjr,  H.  93,  hanging,  Sax. 
Hyr,  ther 

Hyyeth,  O.  1771,  highest 
Hyyng,  A.  149,  159,  haste. 

I,  prefix,  see  Y 

Jangelonrs,  A.  3426,  minstrels,  tale-tellers,  jugglers,  Fr. 

Jangelyug,  R.  975,  prating,  Fr. 

I-blent,  blinded 

I-borewe,  SS.  826,  born 

I-browe,  brewed 


414  GLOSSARY. 

Ich,  I,  Sax.     Icham,  I  am.     Ichaue,  I  have.     Ichil,  I  will. 

Ichim,  I  him,  I  to  him 
Ich,  each.     Ichchone,  Ichone,  each  one,  all.    This  ich  day, 

This  same  day.     In  ich  an  ende,  L.  68,  on  every  side,  every 

where 
Jeste,  R.  32,  history,  romance.     Jestis,  A.  412,  actions 
I-heryd,  O.  866,  992,  praised,  blessed,  Sax. 
I-lade,  laden 
I-lened,  believed 
Ilka,   like,   each,  same,   Sax.     Ilkane, ,  Ilkone,    each   one. 

Ilkadele,  every  part 
I-lowe,  lied 

In,  R.  702,  inn,  lodging 
Inche,  SS.  1205,  read  nithe,  envy,  Sax. 
Increpyng,  A.  2168,  piercing  the  skin,  quasi,  creeping  into  it 
Insame,  together,  Sax. 

In-tane,  Am.  149,  taken  up  so  much  money  on  our  estate 
Inwith,  SS.  1 26,  within 
Jogoleris,  jugglers,  JFV*. 
Jolif,  jolly 

Jornay,  day's  work,  enterprise,  Fr. 
Joster,  see  Justers 

Josyng,  SS.  92,  rejoicing,  still  used  in  the  Scotish  dialect 
Joute,  R.  1520,  battle,  company  for  justing,  jouste,  O.  Fr. 
I-plyght,  I  pledge,  I  promise,  generally  a  mere  expletive 
Iren  hat,  A.  1629,  helmet 
Irour,  anger,  O.  Fr. 

Irrous,  A.  330,  enraged,  impassioned,  Fr. 
I-schape,  R.  3779,  shaped,  created,  made 
I-serued,  SS.  975,  deserved 
I-sode,  boiled,  Sax. 
I-speled,  SS.  542,  saved  ? 
I-tan,  taken 
I-traid,  betrayed 
Juel,  evil 
Juggeth  al  his  weorren,  A.  1538,  judgeth  the  event  of  hi* 

wars 
Justers,  A.  1400,  1867,  horses  for  justing,  or  tourneying 
Juslis,  R.  27,  see  Jestis 
I-yelt,  yielded,  requited 

Kalange,  Am.  157,  challenge 

Kanlell,  O.  1113,  corner 

Kape,  SS.  3523,  3879,  sleeve  of  the  coat,  see  v.  3882 

Karpe,  talk,  prate 

Kaucyon,  caution,  pledge,  security,  Fr, 


GLOSSARY.  415 


Kayes,  keys 

Kedde,  O.  1135,  show,  Sax. 
Keld,  O.  1063,  killed 
Kern,  O.  1552,  came 
Ken,  O.  671,  kine,  cows 

Ken,  R.  1398,  1949,  kenne  ;  O.  580,   show,  make  known, 
teach,  Sax.     Ken  and  Kyghth,  O.  1822,  relations  and  ac- 
quaintances.   Kenyng,  knowing 
Kende,  nature,  relationship,  race,  Sax. 
Keovere,  A.  4703,  recover,  obtain,  Fr.     Keovered,  A.  4267, 

recovered,  raised  himself 
Kep,  Kepe,  care,  heed,  notice 
Kernell,  O.  1115,  battlement,  Fr, 
Kervynge,  cutting,  sharp 
Kest,  cast,  kissed 
Kete,  A.  3049,  kite 
Kett,  cut 

Kevercheves,  kerchiefs,  Fr. 
Kit,  cut 

Kith,  Kithe,  show*  make  known,  Sax. 

Knape,  SS.  1312,  knave,  man-servant,  boy,  page,  Sax.  Knave- 
child,  a  male-child 
Knawe,  Be  Y  knawe,  A.  724,  make  known  to  me 
Knet,  knit,  tied 
Knohches,  notches,  bunches 
Knowe,  A.  6490,  knee 

Knowleching,  knowledge,  mark  to  discover  by,  Sax. 
Knutte,  A.  2133,  knighis;  A.  2251,  knit,  tied 
Knyf  pleying,  A.  1044,  see  Notes,  p.  297 
Kokes,  O.  1^2,  cooks 
Konioun,  A.  7748,  rascal,  Fr. 
Konne,  know,  Sax.     More  fayn  he  wolde  konne,  A.  6945,  he 

would  fain  know  more 
Kourith,  Ac  nede  coward  byhynde  kourith,  A.  2053,  but  ne- 
cessarily (of  course)  a  coward  cowers  (hides  himself)  be- 
hind (the  battle) 

Koroune,  crown 
.  Kouth,  Kowth,  could,  knew,  known 

Koyntise,  A.  6255,  contrivance,  Fr. 

Ku,  A.  5956,  cow.     Kuyn,  A.  760,  cattle,  Sax. 

Kun,  SS.  60,  know,  give,  Sax. 

Kyghthe,  show,  Sax. 

Kynd,  Kynde,  A.  5964,  R.  3499,   kin,  line,   descendants, 
Sax.  A.  4475,  sort 

Kyndlyng,  A.  5680,  conceiving 

Kyngnche,  Kynryche,  kingdom,  Sax. 


41(3  GLOSSARY. 


Kynrede,  A.  6421,  kindred,  family,  nation,  Sax. 
Kyrnelles,  R.  3845,  battlements,  Fr. 
Kyt,  Kyttes,  Kyttith,  cut 
Kytted,  A.  4344,  caught 

Laak,  A.  5062,  lake 

Lache,  catch,  Iceccan,  Sax. 
*+  Lacke,  H.  141,  beat ;  lick  is  still  used  in  many  counties 

Lad.  Weore  they  lad  othir  y-bore  of  heore  lond  heo  weore 
lore,  A.  6498,  were  they  led  or  borne  out  of  their  land, 
they  were  lost  or  destroyed,  i.  e.  they  cannot  subsist  but  in 
their  native  land 

LafF,  Laft,  left,  remained,  Sax. 

Laiked,  SS.  3310,  liked,  pleased 

Laith,  AA.  1914,  loathly 
*  Lake,  SS.  1212,  please 

Lakkyng,  A.  3844,  seems  to  mean  licking  (blood),  as  the  poet 
speaks  of  spears  bathing  in  blood.  The  Bodl.  MS.  reads 
liklakyng 

Lant.  Gold  is  but  a  lant  lone,  Am.  416,  goods  or  possessions 
are  but  lent  loans,  only  lent  to  man 

Lappes,  AA.  988,  the  skirts  or  flaps  of  the  coat,  Sax. 

Lare,  lore,  learning,  AA.  356,  teaching,  instruction 

Large,  SS.  1251, 1266,  liberal,  Fr. 

Largeness,  A.  6879,  liberality,  Fr. 

Laroun,  A.  4209,  thief,  Fr. 

Lathe,  A.  7722,  loathing,  disgusting,  Sax. 

Latimere,  Latymer,  R.  2473,  2491,  interpreter,  latinier,  Fr. 
A.  7089,  guide 

Latin,  frequently  (as  in  SS.  2396,  2486),  used  for  language  In 
general,  even  that  of  brutes 

Latoun,  a  kin<i  of  mix<  d  metal  of  the  colour  of  brass,  Fr. 

Lauen,  A.  3853,  hills.  Sax.     See  Lowe 

Lauer,  a  laver,  R.  3417,  Fr.  to  wash  before  dinner,  which 
custom  was  universally  observed 

Laught,  A.  685,  caught,  Sax.  A.  1109,  left 

Launceyng  •,  A.  1613,  ttirow'ug  lances 

Launche,  SS.  1904,  throw,  place 

Laund,  I.  383,  an  unplonghed  plain,  Fr. 

Lauor,  O.  1299,  laver,  vessel  to  wash  in,  Fr. 

Lay,  A.  5211,  song,  a  metrical  composition.  In  ancient  Ger- 
man, a  leich  means  a  song  or  metrical  composition,  and  i* 
used  exactly  in  the  same  manner  as  lay  in  Fr.  and  En$r. 
So  in  the  poem  of  King  Rother  : 

"  Do  nam  der  recke  Dieterich 
Eine  harfin,  die  was  crlicln 


GLOSSARY.  417 

Und  schleich  hinden  den  vmmehan : 
Wie  schire  ein  leich  darvz  clanc." — v.  2512. 
"  Liide  das  leich  clanc." — v.  2522. 
Lay,  law,  religion,  Fr. 
Lazer,  leper 
Lech,  C.  409,  liege 

Leche,  physician,  Sax.    Leche-craft,  the  art  of  medicine 
Lechour,  A.  3916,  blockhead.     It  was  formerly  used  in  this 
sense  as  well  as  its  more  obvious  one.     It  was  also  applied 
to  a  parasite,  a  meaning  that  applies  very  well  in  the  pre- 
sent instance.     See  1.  3974,  &c. 
Lechure,  A.  6306,  lechery 

Lede,  Lond  or  lede,  C.  412,  land  or  people,  Sax. 
Ledron,  A.  3216,  a  leper,  any  mean  person,  O.  Fr. 
Leef,  dear,  Sax.     Was  me  never  leef,  A.  4659,  I  never  de- 
lighted in 
Lees,  Leesse,  O.  133,  lye,  lying 
Leffe,  I.  2294,  beloved,  wife,  leman 
Lefliche,  A.  4020,  free  to  choose 

Left,  O.  919,  believed.     Leffte,  R.  5337,  6807,  remained 
Legge,  Leggeth,  lay,  lay  down,  -Sax. 
Leghe,  Leighe,  lye,  lyed.     Leyghth,  AA.  838,  lyes 
Leif,  believe 
Leighster,  L.  106,  Iyer 

Lek,  O.  1205,  leak.     Lek,  SS.  929, 1537,  lock,  shut 
Lele,  loyal,  true 

Lem,  A.  6848,  gleam  of  light,  brightness,  Sax. 
Leman,  Lemon,  love,  sweetheart,  concubine,  wife,  Sax. 
Leme,  limb 

Lend,  C.  120,  I.  486,  768,  stop,  remain,  stay 
Lengore,  L.  157,  longer 
Lente,  O.  615,  landed,  stopt 
Leof,  Ltove,  leve,  dere,  Sax.    Leovere,  dearer 
Leore,  A.  1122,  Ler,  Lere,  A.  3953,  loss 
Leose,  Leosen,  lose 

Lerde,  R.  1343,  Lend,  Leryd,  learned,  Sax. 
Lere,  A.  799,  3758,  skin,  complexion,  Sax. 
Lese,  O.  767,  lash 

Lesse  than,  I.  1615,  unless.     Maketh  less,  extinguishes 
Lesse,  leaah,  Fr. 
Lest,  Lesste,  listen,  hear,  Sax. 
Lesyng,  losing ;  lying 

Let,  Leteth,  Lette,  hinder,  leave,  hinderance,  Sax.    He  lette 
mony  wyves  child,  A.  2477,  he  hindered  many  wives  from 
childing,  causing  them  to  miscarry  ;  or,  perhaps,  he  left  many 
voi.  nr.  t>  d 


418  GLOSSARY. 


of  his  men  (children  of  women)  behind.  Lettynge,  hinder- 
ing 

Lettrure,  A.  3516,  6317,  letter,  writing 

Leve,  A.  2906,  lover 

Leve,  believe.    Leved,  R.  3435,  left,  omitted 

Lete,  A.  5812,  left 

Levere,  A.  21,  rather,  Sax. 

Leuely,  lovely 

Levery,  R.  4029,  wages,  Fr. 

Levours,  R.  1935,  leaver 

Levyd,  R.  6440,  lived ;  remained,  Sax. 

Lewid  men  and  lerid,  A.  2,  R.  3100,  ignorant  and  learned 
men,  clergy  and  laity,  every  body,  Sax. 

Lewte,  loyalty,  Fr. 

Ley,  law,  religion,  Fr.  Here  mete  ley,  I.  664,  lay  down  be- 
fore them  their  meat,  food.  A  fallow  ley,  H.  15,  a  piece 
of  fallow  or  lay  ground 

Libbard,  leopard 

Libbe,  Libben,  live.     Libbuth,  livcth,  Sax. 

Liche,  A.  3482,  body,  Sax. 

Ligge,  lay,  lay  down.     Ligeth,  R.  2273,  lies 

Light  day,  T.  1404,  clear  day,  open  daylight 

Light,  alight,  pitch ;  I.  2136,  grow  light ;  adv.  lightly,  quickly 

Line,  linen 

List,  SS.  2046,  cunning,  artifice ;  list,  Germ. 

Listow,  liest  thou 

Lite,  little 

Lith,  SS.  571,  alighted 

Lith,  Lithe,  lies ;  inf.  A.  2798,  lighten,  ease,  soften,  Sax. 

Litherliche,  SS.  972,  wickedly,  Sax. 

Liueray,  AA.  1659,  Livrere,  AA.  1640,  Liversoon,  A.  1011, 
ration  of  food  ;  livraison,  Fr. 

Logges,  A.  4295,  lodges,  i.  e.  tents 

Loke,  A.  150,  5021,  look  after,  take  care  of,  guard.  Loke 
me,  A.  365,  take  care  of  me.  Lokeden,  A.  5743,  toke 
care  of,  kept.  To  loke  that  was  his  owe,  A.  1823,  to  guard 
or  look  after  his  own  possessions 

Loke,  A.  6516,  AA.  492,  locked  or  shut  up 

Lome,  O.  1944 

Lond,  A.  6170,  we  should  read  folk.  In  lond,  I.  1112,  on 
the  ground,  an  expletive.  God  of  lond,  A.  lord  of  the 
world 

Lone,  C.  131,  loan,  gift 

Long  on  Jac  Wade,  H.  185,  caused  by  him  (a  phrase  still 
usual  in  the  north  of  England) 

Longith,  A.  139,  lengthens 


GLOSSARY.  419 

Lonse,  lance 

Loof,  R.  71,  a  sea  term,  still  in  use 

Looketb,  guards,  takes  care  of 

Loop,  Lopen,  Lopon,  leapt 

Loos,  see  Los 

Lore,  O.  651,  teach,  Sax. 

Lore,  Lorn,  Loron,  lost ;  A.  698,  destroyed 

Los,  Lose,  praise,  commendation,  fame,  O.  Fr. 

Losangere,  Loseuger,  R.  3690,  A.  7736,  flatterer,  liar,  prater, 

Fr.     Losengrie,  flattery,  lying 
Losards,  R.  1864,  1875,  cowards 
Lost,  A.  7057,  lust 
Loteby,  SS.  1443,  companion,  lover 
Lothliche,  loathly,  shamefully.     Lothlokest,  A.  6312,  loath- 

liest,  most  loathsome 
Lotynge,  A.  6203,  struggling,  striving  together ;  hitter,  Fr. 
Love-drewry,  A.  7610,  courtship 
Louer,  SS.  1799,  lord,  Sax. 
Lough,  Lowgh,  Lowe,  C.  505,  laughed 
Loure,  Louren,  look  sad,  discontented,  Sax. 
Looted,  SS.  711,  bowed,  made  obeisance,  Sax. 
Lowe,  A.  4348,  5361,  hill,  Sax.     C.  516,  flame,  Sax.     A. 

721,  deep.     AA.  836,  lied.     Lowen,  SS.  799,  lied 
Lowede,  R,  22,  lewd,  unlearned,  laity 
Loweth,  A.  5146,  lowers,  goes  down 
Lowgh,  low 
Lowte,  see  Louted 
Luffand,  loving,  kind 
Lumbars,  A.  6063,  probably  ships  of  heavy  burden,  transports, 

in  opposition  to  dromondes,  swift  sailing  ships,  or  men  of 

war 
Luste,  A.  1916,  listening.     Lustneth,  listen 
Luttis,  C.  101,  lutes 
Lybb,  live,  Sax. 
Lybbard,  Lyberde,  leopard 

Lyf,  A.  3885,  either  Ikve,  dear,  or  else,  as  life  itself 
Lyffte,  Of  gold  wel  twenty  menuys  lyftte,  A.  3352,  as  much 

gold  as  twenty  men  could  lift 
Lyg,  Lygges,  Lygkes,  Am.  192,  lie,  lies 
Lyghe,  A.  3458,  light 
Lyght,  A.  277,  lay";  C.  69,  little 

Lyghten,  A.  6801,  alighted.     Lyghlyng,  A.  793,  alighting 
Lym,  A.  420,  glue.     He   that  was  take  of  deth  was  lymed, 

A.  5701,  he  that  was  taken  prisoner  was  sure  of  death,  as  a 

limed  bird,  i.  e.  caught  with  bird-lime  ? 
Lymes,  A.  8025,  limb* 


420  GLOSSARY. 


iLyndc,  linden-tree 

Lyng,  I.  1014,  linger 

Lyre,  C.  153,  face 

Lyste,  choose 

Lyte,  little  . 

Lythe,  R.  2480,  3480,  light,  soft,  gentle,  Sax.  v.  cherish, 

lithian,  Sax. 
Lyvereyng,  A.  7171,  delivery  of  provisions,  Fr. 
Lyves,  A.  alive,  living.    Lyves  mon,  A.  9,  living  man 

Ma,  more 

Mace,  A.  6257,  masonry,  Fr. 

Mace,  club 

Masters,  A.  6719,  employment,  meshcrs,  lr. 

Maidems,  meadows 

Mahons,  Mahoun,  Mahomet 

Maied,  A.  7328,  mead,  meadow  ».-•,* 

Maigne,  attendance,  company,  followers,  army;  A.  ioi2, 
main  power,  strength.  Evel  maigne  to  lure  was  schape 
bottho  that  myghle  the  deth  ascliape,  A.  1119,  she  had 
few  attendants ;  only  those  that  might  escape  death 

Maister,  A.  6112,  master-town,  metropolis 

Maisterlyng,  master  . 

Maistrie,  Maistres,  A.  5591,  maistery,  skill,  superiority,  science, 

Fr.  .        _ 

Make,  A.  3314,  mate,  fellow,  companion,  Sax.     - 
Male,  A.  5177,  portmanteau,  package ;  SB.   10o4,  a  oagtui, 

Fr. 

Maleaperte,  A.  3260,  in  evil  part,  foully,  pert,  Fr. 

Malese,  A.  7366,  uneasiness,  Fr. 

Malicious,  A.  3323,  artful,  i<>.  .  .    ,.  „ 

Mall,   H.  91,  club,  "   such  as   thei  beten  cloUy*  witnall. 
Mallus,  H.'  140,  plur. 

Malt,  A.  6638,  mt  Its,  Sax. 

Maltalent,  R.  3272,  3668,  ill  will,  F*. 

Mane,  moan 

Min<  le  A.  7412,  mingle,  meter,  lr. 

MaiAielis,  Mangonels,  a  warlike  machine  for  throwing  stones, 
generally  used  to  batter  down  walls;  sometimes  (e.  g.  A. 
A  1208,)  the  stones  themselves  are  so  called,  tr. 

Manned,  A.  7059,  manhood;  L.  235,  relation  ot  consangui- 
nity ,  ,     c 

Manrede,  A.  4665,  dependents,  vassals,  Sax. 

Mansoll,  R.  351,  see  Masnel 

Manships,  Do  np  your  manships,  R.  1845,  rouse  your  man- 
hood, your  courage 


GLOSSARY.  421 

Mantal-les,  A.  204,  without  a  mantle 

Mar,  more 

Marchalsye,  O.  1387,  horsemanship 

Marche,  A.  3019,  border,  frontier 

Mare,  more,  greater 

Margariles,  A.  5683,  pearls  Fr. 

Markys,  R.  marquis 

Marows,  H.  247,  friends  ?  (Wives  are  mentioned  in  the  next 
line) 

Marschalle,  0. 1432,  keeper  of  horses,  the  original  meaning  of 
the  word 

Martyn  apen,  A.  6464,  martin-eats,  a  kind  of  apes 

Maryn,  R.  sea-coast,  Fr. 

Marys,  marsh,  fen,  Fr. 

Mas,  Mase,  A.  7838,  R.  370,  club,  mace,  O.  Fr. 

Mase,  SS.  3267,  makes,  make 

Masnel,  R.  5660,  mace,  club 

Mat,  O.  1206,  dejected,  Fr. 

Matel,  A.  6242,  metal 

Matynges,  A.  261,  deadly  contests,  in  opposition  to  plays  men- 
tioned in  the  same  line  ;  from  mater,  O.Fr.  to  kill ;  or  per- 
haps metynges,  i.  e.  dreams 

Maugre,  Maugry,  subst.  misfortune  ;  adv.  in  spite  of,  Fr. 

Mawe,  A.  1260,  stomach,  Sux. 

Mawmetis,  idols.  Mawmettes,  R.  mosches.  Mawmentrye, 
idolairie,  Mahometanism  ;  O.  1306,  temple  for  the  idols 

May,  maid,  Sax. 

Mayn,  force,  strength,  Fr. 

Maytyr  negromancien,  R.  5490,  master  of  negromancy  or  ma- 
gic, Fr. 

Me,  A.  1605, 1658,  men  ;  often  used  in  the  same  way  as  the 
French  on,  and  the  German  man 

Mech,  much 

Mecly,  mekely 

Medlay,  Medie,  multitude,  quarrel,  battle,  Fr. 

Med  we,  meadow 

Meigntenaunt,  immediately,  Fr. 

Mekyll,  much,  Sax. 

Melche,  She  was  melche,  L.  196,  she  had  milk 

Meles,  R.  2219,  males,  packages,  goods,  Fr. 

Melith,  mix,  meler,  Fr. 

Melle,  R.  2640,  mill 

Menage,  A.  2087,  family,  O.  Fr. 

Mene,  bemoan.     Meneyng,  SS.  2858,  moaning,  sorrow 

Mene,  followers,  train.     Mened,  SS.  2970,  attended 

Meneson,  SS.  1132,  dysentery,  menoison,  Fr. 


422  GLOSSARY. 

Meneuere,  A.  5474,  miniver,  the  fhr  of  the  ermine,  and  that 

of  the  small  weasel  (menu  vair),  mixed,  Fr. 
Menge,  R.  15.52,  mix.     Mengeth,  AA.  1173,  manges,  makes 

leprous 
Menkinne,  mankind 
Mensagor,  messenger 
Menske,  decency,  honour,  manliness,  Sax. 
Menstracie,  minstrelsy 
Meollen,  A.  4442,  mills,  Sax. 
Mercy,  A.  7506,  thanks,  Fi\ 
Mere,  R.  5498,  a  mare 
Mervailes,  Merueslynges,  wonders,  Fr. 
Merure,  SS.  2798,  2809,  mirrour 

Mesanter,  Messantoure,  misadventure,  mesaventure,  Fr. 
Meschance,  misfortune,  Fr. 
Mese,  mess,  dish,  dinner 
Mesel,  AA.  1259,  leper,  Fr. 
Messaner,  A  A.  1711,  probably  corrupted  from  mesiau,  mezeau, 

O.  Fr.  a  leper  ;  or  perhaps  messanter,  unfortunate 
Mest  and  lest,  greatest  and  least 
Mester,  sort,  kind,  employment,  Fr.     With  the  mestre,  A. 

5466,  with  the  most  ?    The  words  seem  to  form  a  mere  ex* 

pletive 
Met,  meat,  dinner 

Met,  v.  dreamt,  Sax.     Metyng,  a  dream 
Meteliest,  fittest 

Meynlenaunt,  at  the  present  time 
Meyrys,  O.  505,  the  mayor's  of  the  town 
Meyster,  see  Mester 

Michel,  AA.  248,  muchness,  greatness,  Sax. 
Mid,  with,  Sax. 
Mididoiie,  SS.  1368,  1442,  the  sense  seems  to  be,  at  midnight. 

Mr  Ellis's  explanation,  **  secretly,  mithene,  absconditus,  Sax." 

only  applies  in  the  last  of  these  two  passages 
Misfare,  snbst.  misfortune.     Misfared,  R.  1823,  misbehaved 
Misgclt,  SS.  1697,  yielded  amiss,  done  amiss,  committed 
Mistering,  misteaching,  evil  teaching 
Miss,  R.  7066,  missing 

Missay,  R.  2012,  Missegg,  L.  61,  revile,  abuse, 
Mistens,  professions,  mestiers,  Fr. 
Mit,  might 

Mistydde,  mistided,  mischanced 
Moble,  R.  6460,  furniture,  Fr. 
Mode,  anger,  wrath;  I.  2281,  mind,  spirit.       It  is  used  in  the 

latter  sense  by  Wyntown.     Modde,  C.  54     fashion,  dress, 

Fr. 


GLOSSARY.  423 

Molde,  mould,  earth,  R.  2007,  the  crown  of  the  head,  Sax. 

Molest,  A.  5443,  molestation 

Mone,  R.  4636,  relate,  rehearse.  In  old  mone,  A.  1281,  in 
old  sayings  or  proverbs 

Monnyliche,  manly 

Mon-quellyn,  A.  3352,  man-killing 

Mont,  mount,  hill,  Fr. 

Moot,  R.  6708,  movement  on  an  instrument,  motette,  Fr. 

Moppe,  SS.  1414,  1416,  fool.  To  mope,  is  used  by  Shake- 
speare in  the  sense  of  exhibiting  marks  of  stupidity 

More,  A.  5169,  greater.     More  and  less,  greater  and  smaller 

More,  moor,  bog.  By  the  dymming  of  the  more,  R.  6977, 
by  the  staining  (with  blood)  of  the  moor  or  ground 

Moretyde,  A.  4106,  morrowtide,  morning,  Sax. 

Mornand,  mourning.     Mornestow,  mournest  thou 

Morwe,  morning.  A  few  morwe,  A.  4509,  a  few  mornings 
(days) 

Mote,  may ;  SS.  3422,  moot,  contend 

Mounde,  A.  2277,  helmet ;  A.  5592,  7400,  value,  amount, 
power.  All  the  mounde,  SS.  1928,  explained  by  Mr  Ellis 
(Metr.  Rom.  III.  58),  all  the  world,  all  your  wishes  grati- 
fied 

Mountance,  Mountas,  Mountenance,  amount,  value,  Fr. 

Mowe,  Mowen,  Mowne,  may 

Muche,  A.  3010,  great,  numerous.  Muchehed,  A.  7352,  mag- 
nitude, Sax. 

Muchul,  mickle,  many,  great,  Sax, 

Moray,  A.  6244,  wall,  Fr, 

Mury,  merry,  A.  193,  mirth 

Muster,  H.  101,  muster-roll 

Muthe,  A.  1638,  army,  muetey  O.  Fr, 

Muylyn,  mules 

Mychel,  great,  Sax. 

Myddelerde,  A.  1,  42,  the  earth,  world,  middan-eard,  Sax. 

Myde,  A.  7996,  8021,  amidst,  with,  Sax.  In  soth  witness  halde 
him  myd,  A.  4780,  truly  bore  witness  with  him  (i.  e.  Aris- 
totle) 

Mydouernon,  A.  5216,  half  after  noon,  i.  e.  between  noon  and 
vespers,  three  o'clock 

Mydward,  middle,  Sax. 

Myghtow,  might  thou 

Mylt,  O.  245,  mild,  merciful,  Sax. 

Mynoris,  A.  1218,  miners,  Fr. 

Mysdone,  A.  5334,  misdo,  harm,  Sax. 

Mys-say,  R.  1277,  revile,  Sax. 

Myster,  Mystyr,  need,  necessity,  work,  business,  Fr, 


424  GLOSSARY. 


Mystrye,  mastery,  command 

Na,  none 

N'ad,  N'adden,  ne  had,  had  not 

Nake,  naked 

Nam,  Name,  took,  Sax.    N'am,  ne  am,  am  not 

Namrao.  no  more 

Nankins,  SS.  2882,  no  kind  of,  Sax, 

Nar,  N'ar,ne  are,  are  not 

Narwe,  R.  3821,  narrow,  covetous,  Sax, 

Nas,  N'as,  was  not      N'ast,  hast  not.     N'ath,  hath  not 

Natheles,  nevertheless,  Sux. 

Ne,  Neo,  not,  nor,  Sax. 

Negh,  Neghe,  adv.  near,  nearly;  v.  to  nigh,  come  near;  O. 

650,  655,  nine 
N'ei,  N'ehe,  will  not 
Nempnid,  named 

Neoteth,  A.  6767,  ne  wotteth,  knoweth  not 
N'er,  N'ere,  were  not.     Nere,  R.  6526,  black,  Fr.    Nere,  L. 

212,  never.     Ner,  R.  768,  violent  ?   Me  thinketh  longe  that 

n'er  er,  SS.  312,  it  appeals  long  to  me  that  that  ne  were, 

i.  e.  did  not  happen 
Nese,  nose 

Nessche,  A.  63,  SS  739,  soft,  Sax. 
Nethcbour,  neighbour 
Neuyn,  SS.  3444,  name 
Newelte,  C.  214,  novelty 
Neweynge,  C.  372,  New-year's  gift 
Neyghe,  O.  536,  nine 
Neyt,  cattle 
Nice,  foolish,  Fr. 
Nick,  A  A.  2176,  deny 
Nigramance,  the  black  art,  magic,  Fr. 
Nightward,  SS.  2621,  nightwatch 

N'ill,  will  not.     N'is,  is  not.     N'iste,  ne  wiste,  knew  not,  Sax. 
No,  nor,  not.     No  had  beo,  had  not  been.     No  mo,  A.  6024, 

no  other.     No  weore,  A.  7362,  were  not,  if  there  were  not. 

No  wer,  A.  7124,  no  where.     Nomon,  no  man 
Noblais,  Nobleys,  nobleness,  excellence 
Noise,  A.  3274,  tumult,  dispute 
Noithei,  Your  noither,  AA.  852,  neither  of  you 
Nom,  took,  Sax. 
Nonekins,  no  kind  of,  Sax. 

Nones,  For  the  nones,  on  the  occasion,  for  the  purpose 
Noricerie,  nurcery,  It.    Noryes,  A.  4730,  foster-children 
Not,  N'ot,  N'ote,  N'o  te,  ne  wot,  knew  not. 


GLOSSARY.  425 

Note,  Notes,  nuts.    Notemugge,  A.  6792,  nutmeg 

Note,  More  to  harm  than  to  note,  SS.  992,  more  harmful  than 
useful,  or  needful;  note,  need,  use,  Sav. 

Notheless  Alisaunder,  A.  3658,  without  the  intervention  of 
Alexander 

Nother,  neither,  other.  No  mai  ther  go  no  nother  guile  ?  AA. 
950,  may  there  not  be  another  guile  or  trick  i 

Noutli,  Nouthe,  R.  2404,  A.  7747,  nought,  nothing ;  SS.  614, 
now 

Nownes,  In  the  nownes,  H.  266,  for  the  nones,  for  the  occa- 
sion ? 

Nowtte,  H.  160,  note,  cry 

Noye,  annoy 

N'ul,  N'ulle,  will  not.  N'ultow,  wilt  thou  not.  N'uste,  knew 
not 

Nye,  O.  145,  eye 

Nygtien,  go  near,  approach,  Sax. 

N'ylle,  N'ylleth,  N'yllthow,  see  N'ul 

Nyme,  take,  Sax.  Throwing  and  nymyng,  A.  1614,  dismount- 
ing knights  and  taking  them  prisoners 

N'ys,  is  not 

Nyse,  R.  2786,  foolish,  Fr. 

Nyth,  A.  4813,  night 

Nytliyng,  A.  2054,  malicious,  envious,  mean,  Sax. 

O,  Oo,  one,  on,  of;  R.  1391,  own ;  O  wer,  A.  5629,  any  where 
Odame,  A.  2081,  brother-in-law,  eidam,  Germ,  (see  v.  2349) 
Of,  A.  5576,  off,  from 
Of-clepith,  calls  for 

Of-dawen,  A.  2265,  recover,  as  it  were  day  up,  dawn 
Of-drad,  afraid  of 
Off-took,  R.  4367,  took  by  aim,  hit 
Of-gradde,  inquire  of,  see  Grede 

Of-kende.    And  howe  vnknow  they  were  of-kende,  AA.  14, 
How  they  were  unknown  (indiscernible)  one  from  the  other 
Of-send,  send  off,  send  for 
Of-slyve,  C.  211,  slip  or  tear  off 
Of-sygh,  A.  6060,  saw,  perceived 
Of-tolJe,  spoken  of 
Off-sythes,  many  times,  Sax. 
Oither,  either,  or 

Ohfaunt,  elephant ;  A.  1182,  ivoryhorn,  olifant,  O.  Fr. 
Olyuers,  A.  5785,  olive-trees 
Omang,  Omell,  SS.  2811,  among 
On,  one,  an 
Onane,  anon 


426  GLOSSARY. 

Onde,  envy,  onda,  Sax.— A.  3501,  breath,  life,  ond,  Sax, 

Onence,  SS.  2872,  against 

One  the,  scarcely,  Sax, 

On-live,  Brought  on-live,  R.  2059,  killed,  took  away  from  lift, 

on  being  here  corrupted  from  otf 
Onther,  6.  609,  under 
Oo,  one,  once 
Or,  Ore,  ever,  ere 
Ord,  point,  see  Horde.     Both  by  the  grayn  and  at  orde,  A. 

6437,  both  along  the  edge  and  at  the  point 
Ore,  A.  67f  grace,  favour,  happiness,,  from  O.  Fr.  heur,  bon- 

heur,  felicity  which  is  derived  from  Lat.  hora.    See  Rits. 

Rom.  III.  263 
Ore  sa  tost,  A.  1941,  now  then  quickly  all,  Fr,     Oretost,  aly, 

aly,  A.  3819,  now  all  go,  or  march,  Fr. 
Orfreys,  embroidery,  Fr.  aurifrigium,  Lat. 
Orgies,  A.  191,  organs 

Orgulous,  A.  2006,  R.  272,  proud,  splendid,  Fr. 
Orguyl,  pride,  Fr. 
Orpedschype,  A.  1413,  courage.     Orped  is  used  by  Robert  de 

Gloucester  and  Gower 
Os,  Am.  389,  perhaps  a  corruption  of  or  else 
Ospryng,  AA.  48,  offspring 
Ost,  host.    The  grete  ost,  A.  3732,  the  main  army.     Ost,  A. 

3018,  east,  east-frontier 
Ost,  A.  905,  Ostage,  I.  936, 1294,  lodging,  dwelling,  hostel 
Ote.    God  ote,  SS.  God  knows 
Olh,  o'th',  on  the 

Other,  either,  or,  or  else,  each  other,  Sax. 
Otvain,  AA.  286,  asunder,  Sax. 
Ovenon,  On  ovenon,  A.  2234,  on  his  coming  up  to  him,  en. 

avenant,  Fr. 
Over,  A.  419,  ever.     Oner  than,  A.  5878,  after  then 
Oveibod,  SS.  1731,  remained  after,  overlived,  Sax. 
Overhed,  A.  7396,  a  cut  over  the  head  in  fencing 
Oversegh,  SS.  1130,  looked  over,  saw 
Ovirraughte,  R.  2555,  reached 
Our,  L.  15,  o  where,  any  where 
Ours,  SS.  2276,  hours 
Out-braid,  suddenly,  drew  out 
Onte-bishett,  shut  out,  turned  out 
Outelyng,  A.  4915.    The  sense  of  the  two  lines  is  evidently 

this  :  '  These  nations  are  solitary,  shut  out  from  communi- 
cation with  others,  and  committed  entirely  to  their  own 

care  for  themselves,  their  own  government.' 
Outerlyche,  A.  220,  utterly 


GLOSSARY.  427 

Outber,  either 

Outraye,  R.  3891,  2713,  fly  out,  run  out  of  the  ranks,  Fr] 

Out-spat,  spit  out 

Out-wryghe,  A.  6483,  discover,  Sax. 

Ovyrtwart,  overthwart 

Ow,  you 

Owe,  Stod  him  non  owe,  SS.  1887,  he  did  not  stand  in  awe, 
was  not  frightened  with 

Owen,  To  heore  owen,  A.  4367,  i.  e.  harm,  which  word  is  un- 
derstood 

Owghtte,  A.  1675,  owed 

Owy,  L.  296,  away 

Oye,  again 

Oyinge,  R.  279,  yawning,  gaping.     See  1.  WC* 

Oysers,  A.  6186,  osiers 

Paced,  A.  2192,  passed 

Paddokes,  A.  6126,  toads 

Paied,  apayed,  content,  Sax. 

Pais,  peace,  Fr. 

Palfray,  a  horse  used  for  parade  and  for  travelling 

Palle,  fine  cloth,  principally  used  for  the  garments  of  persons 

of  high  rank,  generally  of  a  purple  colour,  Fr.    Undur  palle^ 

A.  7733,  under  the  pall,  or  cloth  spread  over  the  bed 
Palmers,  pilgrims  to  the  Holy  Land 
Pans,  pence  ;  A.  1572,  furs,  panes,  pannes,  O.  Fr. 
Parage,  rank,  kindred,  Fr. 
Paraunter,  peradventure,  perhaps,  Fr. 
Parayle,  O.  1680,  apparel,  arms ;  Fr.  R.  1645,  nobility,  men 

of  rank,  pareille,  Fr. 
Parde,  A.  5569,  by  God,  par  Dieu,  Fr. 
Parmafay,  by  my  faith,  Fr. 
Pars,  A.  664,  probably  grammar :  the  verb  to  parse  is  still  in 

use.     See  the  Proces  of  the  Seven  Sages,  v.  181 
Parted  them,  A.  1392,  divided  amongst  them 
Partrik,  partridge 
Pas,  A.  7804,  paces.    Turned  his  pas,  A.  7837,  turned  back 

again,  retourner  sur  ses  pas,  Fr. 
Pask,  easter 

Passand,  passing,  used  as  a  superlative 
Passed,  past.    No  hadde  nought  passed  theo  halven  dall,  A. 

7116,  had  not  above  half  his  army  left.     See  the  following 

lines 
Pates,  R.  1832,  boats,  vessels 
Pauues,  A.  2800,  heads,  Sax. 
Pautener,  A.  1737,  R.  2512,  vagabond,  libertine,  O.  Fr,    See 


428  glossary; 

Roquefort's  Diet,  tie  la  Langne  Romane,  where  (II.  319) 
there  is  a  curious  collection  of  the  different  senses  to  which 
the  word  was  applied 

Pay,  Paye,  Payd,  Payed,  Payyd,  content,  agreed,  agreeable, 
Fr. 

Paylouns,  pavilions,  tents,  Fr. 

Paynym,  pagan  ;  R.  612,  the  country  of  the  pagans 

Pays,  A.  1 630,  R.  4095,  pitch,  Fr. 

Pekke  mod,  SS.  262,  grow  angry,  pick  a  quarrel 

Pel,  L.  172,  Pn lie,  O.  319,  Pellis,  A.  6697,  fur,  furs 

Pelers,  pillars 

Peit,  SS.  384,  (?)— SS.  751,  put,  O.  595,  pushed 

Penci,  C.  177,  thought,  Fr. 

Pencel,  a  banner,  Fr.  Pencels  are  described  to  be* '  flagges 
for  horsemen,'  in  MS.  Harl.  2358,  relating  to  justs  and  tour- 
neys.— P.  The  pencel  or  pennon  differed  from  the  banner, 
which  was  square,  in  being  long,  and  tapering  to  the  end. 
When  a  banneret  was  created,  the  long  end  of  the  pennon 
which  he  wore  as  knight  was  cut  off.  Hence  the  French 
proverb,  Faire  de  penon  bannicre,  applied  to  a  person  passing 
from  oue  dignity  to  another 

Peolour,  A.  4129,  puelre,  furred  robe,  Fr. 

Peopur,  A.  7032,  pepper 

Peoren,  A.  1516,  Pers,  Peers,  equals,  companions,  Fr. 

Perage,  rank,  Fr. 

Perche,  A.  2459,  prick,  spur 

Perdos,  A.  6709,  pards,  leopards 

Pere,  see  Peoren.     Peres,  pears 

Perfiteli,  perfectly 

Pers,  A.  4987,  generally  sky,  or  bluish-grey  colour.  Here  it 
must  mean  some  kind  of  stuff,  on  account  .of  the  epithet 
scarlet  being  applied  to  it 

Person,  A.  3295,  parson 

Pertyng,  A.  2906,  departing 

Pes,  peace 

Pesen,  peas.  A  pese  nys  worth  tlii  riche  sclaundcr,  A.  5959, 
thy  rich  renown  is  not  worth  a  pea 

Pesens,  A.  3697,  gorgets,  armour  for  the  neck,  JFV. 

Pet,  Pett,  pit,  A.  7495,  put,  filled 

Petur,  Am.  119,  St  Peter  ! 

Petusly,  piteously 

Peys,  A.  1620,  R.  4129,  pitch,  Fr. 

Pcytrel,  R.  breast-plate,  poiira'il,  Fr. 

Pilche,  SS.  473,  a  lur  mantle,  Sax. 

Pilt,  L.  136,  put,  placed 


•GLOSSARY.  429 

Pinnote-tree,  SS.  544,  a  red-stocked  or  round-leaved  vine,  Fr, 

Pirie,  SS.  555,  perry,  pear-tree 

Piropes,  A.  5682,  a  kind  of  red  precious  stones 

Plain,  AA.  1911,  play,  sport 

Plate,  A.  5151,  iron-glove,  O.  Fr. 

Plate,  flat,  Fr. 

Playned,  complained.     Pleint,  complaint 

Pleightte,  A.  5859,  plucked 

Plenere,  O.  1785,  complete,  full,  Fr. 

Plight,  Plyght,  v.  pledge,  promise,  Sax.     Plightten,  A.  5831, 

plucked 
Plnniten,  A.  5776,  5778,  plunged 

Pokyd,  R.  5937,  pusher),  urged,  provoked  ?    Perhaps  a  mis- 
take in  transcription  for  "  tlio  kyd,"  then  kythed  or  shewed, 

the  Saxon  th  having  been  mistaken  for  a  p 
Pol,  head.    Pollid,  A.  216,  cropped 
Pomon,  A.  4374,  lungs,  Fr. 
Popetis,  puppets 

Poraile,  A.  1229,  the  poor  people  ;  porail,  pauvraille,  Fr. 
Porculis,  portcullis 
Porture,  carriage,  behaviour,  Fr. 
Porve,  purvay,  provide 
Poste,  O.  1950,  power,  Fr. 
Poudre,  A.  2180,  dust,  Fr. 
Pouerte,  poverty,  Fr. 
Pouke,  R.  566,  puck,  spirit,  fairy 
Poune,  A.  2770,  head,  Sax. 
Pount  tournis,  SS.  743,  point  or  place  to  behold  the  turna- 

ment,  Fr. 
Pouren  in  the  walken,  A.  5799,  poor  men  (pauvres,  Fr.)  on 

the  road  sides,  in  fact  fakeers 
Pouste,  Powste,  power,  Fr 
Power,  A.  4513,  AA.  92,  poor,  pauvre,  Fr. 
Pray,  A.  2595,  press,  crowd,  rythmi  gratia 
Prayd.  I.  90,  invited 

Prechid,  A.  2042,  preched  to,  spoken  to,  cheered  up 
Preke,  spur,  ride,  Sax.     Prikeand,  riding 
Preovest,  A.  6891,  most  approved,  Sax. 
Pres,  Prese,  crowd,  multitude ;  to  press,  to  crowd.     Him 

for  to  preche  wold  scho  noght  prese,  SS.  3428,  she  would 

not  hurry  or  press  to  speak  to  him 
Present,  I.  1750,  presence 
Preue,  prove,  try 

Prest,  ready,  prompt ;  pressed,  thronged 
Prick,  Prike,  see  Preke 
Pris,  prize,  reward,  Fr. 


430  GLOSSARY. 

Prisons,  A.  2513,  R.  3361,  prisoners 

Prowe,  I.  51,  588,  profit,  advantage,  Fr. 

Pryme,  R.  747,  the  first  quarter  of  the  artificial  day,  Fr. 

Prynces,  A.  4727,  probably  the  transcriber's  mistake  for  trai- 
tors 

Prys-mestier,  O.  1194,  principal  trade  or  craft,  Fr. 

Prys-toures,  largest  or  principal  towers 

Pud,  A.  6488,  budded 

Puere,  AA.  2413,  power 

Pull,  Hit  pull,  H.  40,  bring  down  the  hare 

Pulte,  A.  2301,  A.  1921,  put,  placed 

Punge,  A.  1728,  1760,  a  purse,  (see  v.  1798)  so  explained  on 
the  margin  of  the  Line.  Inn  MS.  The  Bodl.  has  the  same 
word 

Purchaceyng,  A.  5196,  provisions,  necessaries  of  life 

Purchas,  A.  4549,  acquisition,  plunder,  SS.  695,  procurement, 
Fr. 

Purueiaunce,  O.  41,  preparation 

Pusen,  see  Pesens 

Put,  pit.  Heorte  put,  A.  2250,  4457,  pit  of  the  heart :  we 
still  say  the  pit  of  the  stomach 

Putayle,  R.  1286,  4291,  the  multitude,  common  people,  Fr. 

Puteyn,  SS.  1639,  harlot,  used  both  for  males  and  females,  Fr. 

Puyr,  very,  real,  clear,  Fr. 

Pycches  som,  A.  4913,  some  kinds  of  pitch 

Pyght,  pitched,  stuck,  fastened 

Pyke,  R.  611,  pilgrim's  staff" 

Pylche-cloute,  R.  2625,  a  rag  of  a  hide  or  fur-cloak 

Pylt,  R.  4085,  put,  placed 

Pyment,  A.  4178,  a  kind  of  claret,  or  wine  mixed  with  honey 
and  spices.     So  in  the  romance  of  the  Bataile  of  Trove  : 
There  was  pyment  of  clarre.     See  Notes,  p.  310. 

Pyne,  C.  332,  pin  which  fastened  down  the  lid  of  the  pannier. 
Pynnes,  A.  7666,  pins  with  which  the  windows  were  fas- 
tened ? 

Pypyn,  A.  3256,  windpipe 

Pyte,  A.  7269,  pityful  state 

Pytte,  put 

Quadth,  quod,  said 

Quaire,  SS.  177,  Quarr£,  Ouarrey,  square,  quarrc',  Fr. 

Queche,  A.  4747,  do  harm,  mischief?     Probably  altered  from 

Quede  or  Quethe  for  the  rhyme's  sake 
Qued,  A.  4237,  R.  1266,  harm,  evil,  quad,  Teut.    SS.  756, 

A.  5619,  wicked,  evil,  bad,  difficult 
Queint,  Queinte,  SS.  2374,  quaiut,  cunning,  skilful,  Fr. 


GLOSSARY.  431 

Quelle,  kill,  Sax. 

Queme,  R.  3432,  I.  28,  please,  Sax. 

Quene,  R.  3971,  as  Queitit,  skilfully,  rythmi  gratia 

Quer  de  lyon,  R.  6268,  Coeur  de  lion 

Querelles,  square-headed  arrows  ;  also  square  stones  shot  from 

mangonels  and  other  engines 
Quert,  Hale  and  in  quert,  SS.  3862,  healthy  and  joyful,  en- 

coeur?  Fr.    Al  quert,  SS.  771,  covered,  tout  covert,  Fr. 
Quethe,  A  A.  2470,  harm,  mischief,  Sax. 
Queyntaunce,  A.  6173,  acquaintance 

Queynteys,   Queyntise,  quaintise,  cunning;    devise,   appear- 
ance ;  courtesy,  cointis^,  O.  Fr.  see  Queint 
Quinre,  A.  5609,  some  kind  of  poisonous  animal 
Quistron,  A.  2511,  means,  as  Mr  Tyrwhitt  had  very  skilfully 
conjectured,  a  scullion.     The  prose  French  chronicle  of  the 
Brut  of  England,  which  was  translated  by  Caxton,  describ- 
ing the  incident  that  furnished  Warner  with  his  very  beau- 
tiful story  of  Argentile  and  Curan,  says  that  King  Edelf 
married  Argentile,  "  a  un  quistron  de  sa  cusyne."     This 
Caxton  renders  by  "  a  knave  of  his  kychen." — D. 
Quite,  Quytte,  requite 
Quitement,  R.  2002,  completely,  entirely 
Quoynte,  quaint,  well  instructed,  polite,  colnt,  Fr. 
Quybibe,  A.  6796,  cubebs,  a  spice  resembling  pepper 
Quyghtt,  C.  63,  quit,  liberate,  redeem 
Quyk,  A.  5743,  alive 
Quyle,  R.  490,  quit 

Qwede,  A.  8020,  bequest,  from  bequeath 
Queyntise,  courtesy 
Quysteroun,  O.  154,  see  Quistron 

Rabben,  A.  4983,  turnips,  rabe,  rabbe,  O.  Fr. 
Rabyte,  R.  2323,  O.  1078,  war-horse;  from   the  following 
passage  in  Veldeck's  iEneid,  it  seems  to  refer  to  the  sex  of 
lue  horse  as  well  the  term  chastellan : 
Eneas  der  Troyan 
Gesaz  vff  ein  ckastellan 
Das  in  ritterlich  true, 
Iz  was  stare  vnd  snel  genuc. 
Tvrnus  saz  vff  ein  ravit 
Darufte  hub  her  den  strit. 
i.  t.  Eneas  the  Trojan  sat  upon  a  chastellan,  which  bore  him 
like  a  knight  (nobly),  and  was  sufficiently  strong  and  quick. 
Turnus  sat  upon  a  rabyte,  upon  which  he  commenced  the 
battle. 
Rach,  R.  4358,  rushes,  used  for  the  thatch  mentioned  v.  4361 


432  GLOSSARY. 

Hade,  A.  6165,  counsel,  advice,  Sax. 

Rade,  O.  305,  Radly,  see  Rathe 

Rage,  A.  4336,  madness,  rashness,  Fr.    A  A.  1945,  mad 

Ran,  SS.  2723,  saying,  see  Dr  Jamieson  in  voce  Rane 

Raudonn,  at  random,  violently,  swift,  Fr. 

Rape,  SS.  1631,  O.  337,  haste,  hurry,  violence.    Toke  in 

rape,  O.  312,  ravished 
Rappyd,  R.  2537,  struck,  thumped  ;  R.  2206,  hurried  away 
Ras,  Little  ras,  A.  7830,  little  race,  short  time 
Rase,  R.  2206,  rage,  Sax. 
Rathe,  R.  5001,  soon,  early,  quick.     Rathly,  quickly,  soon. 

Rathly  res,  O. 1787,  with  a  quick  course,  rapidly 
Raught,  reached 
Real,  royal 

Recet,  L.  278,  lodging,  abode,  Fr. 
Rech,  C.  531,  enrich,  adorn 

Recheth,  A.  7317,  careth,  Sax.  Recheles,  reckless,  careless,  Sax. 
Red,  Redde,  Rede,  counsel,  advice  ;  to  counsel,  Sax.     Red 

me  red,  SS.  1913,  advise  me  with  thy  counsel.     Y  can  no 

rede,  AA.  948,  983,  I  know  of  no  counsel 
Redde,  Reyd,  Am.  88,  175,  countenance,  cheer,  Sax. 
Rede,  A.  4649,  R.  1586,  explain,  tell,  relate 
Redid  in  the  berd,  A.  2944,  reddened  in  the  beard,  i.  e.  their 

cheeks  grew  red  with  anger 
Rees,  O.  137,  rage,  Sax. 
Refft,  bereft 
Reche,  reck,  care 
Reisons  craken,  A.  6991,  crack,  discourse.     We  still  crack 

jests 
Reke,  R.  1811,  O.  182,  reckon  with,  counsel,  consider 
Relegyne,  Am.  275,  religion,  i.  e.  the  secular  and  regular 

clergy 
Reles,  C.  208,  relish 
Remes,  I.  588,  realms 
Reme,  A.  3740,  3347,  make  room, -Sax. 
Ren,  run 

Renay,  renounce,  abjure,  O.  Fir, 
Renge,  R.  525,  563,  ranks,  Fr. 
Rente,    R.   422,  taken  from  him,   bereft.     Rent  with  the 

bronde,  R.  2527 
Reod,  A.  6433,  reed 
Reouth,  ruth,  pity,  sorrow.    Reowly,  A.  6907,  rueful,  pitiful, 

Sax. 
Rerde,  roaring,  noise 
Reremayn,  A.  7395,  a  back  stroke,  as  opposed  to  the  from 

stroke  on  the  target,  arrkremain,  Fr. 


GLOSSARY.  433 

Res,  SS.  2391,  rage;  I.  1831,  to  rage,  Sax. 

Resed,  AA.  2065,  rose 

Resoun,  R.  117,  165,  speech  ;  R.  997,  advice,  Fr.  Aicsod,  A. 

1139,  to  reason,  Fr. 
Respounde,  answer,  Fr. 
Resse,  R.  4165,  hurry,  haste,  Sax. 
Resset,  A.  603,  place  of  refuge,  recette,  Fr. 
Reste,  To  rest- ward,  A.  5338,  toward  rest,  going  to  rest 
Rette,  AI  the  lore  in  him  Y  rette,  A.  7247,  all  the  loss  of  men 

I  impute  to  him,  O.  Fr. 
Return,  Saun  return,  A.  600,  without  escape,  sans  retour,  Fr. 
Reveryng,  A.  678,  rivering,  i.  e.  flying  hawks  at  herons  and 

other  river  fowl.     See  Notes,  p.  295 
Reuist,  SS.  3356,  fetched  suddenly,  raptus,  raptim,  Lat. 
Reume,  SS.  2468,  put  away,  remove 
Reumed,  A.  4238,  spoke  of,  from  reoman,  or  hreman,  Sax.  cla- 

mare,  incessitare 
Reuthe,  ruth,  pity.     In  A.  v.  4114,  it  seems  to  be  used,  ryth- 

mi  gratia,  for  reserve 
Reweliche,  rueful,  pityful 

Reyn,  Falle  by  a  reyn,  A.  1311,  allayed  by  a  rain 
Rialte,  C.  73,  royalty,  splendid  living 
Riband,  A.  1578,  ribald,  libertine,  Fr.    The  meaning  of  this 

and  the  preceding  line,  as  explained  by  Mr  Ellis,  is,  "  The 

teller  of  a  true  tale  (gesta,  Lat.)  is  often  disliked,  while  the 

relater  of  a  tale  of  ribaldry  feasteth  on  tripe." 
Ribaudy,  ribaldry,  Fr. 
Riche,  A.  4744,  realm,  Sax. 
Risrge,  back,  Sax. 
Rightwise,  righteous 

Riis,  Under  riis>  A  A.  136,  under  a  bush,  a  mere  expletive 
Riputh,  ripeneth 
Rist,  A.  2163,  arose 
Rit,  rode 

Riue,  SS.  3550,  arrive 

Roches,  Rocheris,  A.  5167,  7090,  rocks,  Fr. 
Rochys,  O.  953,  roaches 

Rod,  R.  5257,  riding;  perhaps  rede,  consultation 
Rode,  L.  263,  Rody,  A.  164,  ruddiness,  complexion,  Sax. 
Rode,  C.  119,  300,  the  cross,  Sax. 
Rody,  ready 

Rof,  Koff,  R.  504,  2284,  rove,  split 
Roite,  rout,  followers 

Rometh,  A.  7207,  7625,  dwelleth  from,  nun,  Sax.  room 
Rominde,  roaming 
Rounon,  run 

vol.  in.  e  e 


434  GLOSSARY. 

Roo,  R.  7135,  repose,  ruhe,  Germ, 

Roowte,  O.  59,  tote,  a  musical  instrument  similar  to  the  mo- 
dern mandolin  or  hurdygurdy 

Rope,  In  his  rope,  A.  6298,  perhaps  in  liis  rape,  in  his  posses- 
sion ;  or  perhaps  we  might  read,  "  in  his  cope"  i.  e.  in  his  head 

Rote,  SS.  1072,  practise,  deed,  Fr. 

Rotelande,  A.  1871,  rattling.    Rotled,  A.  930,  rattled 

Rother,  rudder.  Rotheres  lunge,  A.  4719,  the  lungs  of  some 
animal 

Rove,  A.  513,  roof 

Roverted,  A.  7895,  returned  to  life,  Lat. 

Rought,  cared ;  part,  of  recche,  Sax.  to  care 

Roun,  Roune,  speech,  tale,  cry ;  0. 461,  roar.  In  short  roun, 
A.  806,  in  few  words,  literally  in  short  speech 

Rouncy,  I.  1646,  0. 1938,  a  common  hackney  horse 

Roupe,  SS.  1185,  outcry,  lamentation 

Route,  R.  4229,  snore,  Fr.  R.  4304,  roar,  make  a  noise 

Rowe,  R.  3407,  raw;  A.  5769,  R.  4661,  rough 

Rowght,  C.  261,  row 

Rown,  R.  2142,  whisper 

Roynyd,  R.  1083,  roared 

Rug,  back,  Sax. 

Rughher,  A.  5956,  rougher 

Ruwet,  A.  3699,  a  rouette,  probably  a  sort  of  buglehorn,  so 
called  from  its  winding  shape 

Rybaud,  A.  3297,  vagabond,  libertine 

Ryneth,  A.  4976,  raineth 

Ryste,  rest 

Ryt,  rode 

Ryth,  right 

Ryvage,  A.  6079,  0. 1643,  Ryve,  A.  4090,  shore  of  the  sea, 
or  of  a  river,  Fr. 

Ryue,  O.  1271,  rife 

Ryuede,  O.  542,  arrived 

Sad,  A.  5587,  solid,  serious,  steady.    Sadly,  truly 

Saffer,  saphir 

Sain,  say 

Sakles,  SS.  3959,  innocent,  guiltless,  Sax. 

Sakret,  A.  6777,  sacred.    Sakeryng,  R.  222,  blessing  the  host 

Sakyn,  A.  1884,  kill,  Sax. 

Sale,  A.  7430,  glad,  content ;  O.  59,  AA.  444,  hall,  Sax.  Fr. 

Saler,  R.  1099,  salt-cellar 

Salod,  Am.  112,  saluted.    Salue,  saluted 

Saltou,  shalt  thou 

Same,  Samen,  In  same,  together,  Sax. 


GLOSSARY.  435 

Samned,  gathered,  assembled 

Sarayt,  A.  1027,  R.  66,  a  rich  silk,  Fr. ;  A.  2095,  a  robe  of 
samyt 

Sand,  see  Sond 

Sare,  sore 

Saresyn,  Saracen,  Pagan.  Sarezynesse,  country  of  the  Sara- 
cens, Fr. 

Sarke,  R.  4553,  shirt,  Sax. 

Sarten,  certain 

Sate,  seat.    Saten,  sat 

Saueliche,  safely.  Saneliche  com  other  sende  tin  sond,  AA. 
1447,  we  should  probably  read  Ganeliche,  quickly 

Sauer,  Am.  72,  savour,  smell 

Saughte  or  wrothe,  R.  2615,  quiet  or  angry,  in  which  sense 
Souch  is  still  used  in  Scotland 

Saun,  Sauns,  without.    Sauns  fable,  without  a  lye,  truly 

Sauour,  AA.  459,  Saviour 

Saut,  assault,  Fr. 

Sawdon,  sultan 

Sawe,  saying,  words,  speech 

Sawtre,  Sawtrye,  C.  102,  O.  69,  psaltery,  a  musical  string-in- 
strument 

Say,  A.  252,  6824,  6682,  saw,  examined 

Say,  A.  454,  R.  2347,  tell,  inform 

Saygyng,  A.  61,  signs,  i.  e.  predictions  relating  to  land,  water, 
&c. 

Saylyng,  A.  676,  7392,  assailing 

Sayne,  say 

Scaloun,  O.  1313,  shilling 

Scathe,  harm,  damage,  Sax. 

Schaftes,  lances 

Schake,  A.  4253,  fly,  move  rapidly  ;  sceacan,  Sax.  fugere. 
God  schak,  A.  232,  with  good  speed.  Thei  went  a  nobull 
schakke,  H.  96,  they  went  at  a  great  rate 

Schalt,  A.  1096,  shouldest 

Schamliche,  shamefully 

Schappe,  H.  38,  shape.  Schappe,  Schapput,  H.  115,  escaped. 
Schape  without  a  scorn,  Am.  49,  escape  without  being 
scorned  or  despised 

Schar,  shore,  cut 

Schawe,  A.  6109,  O.  355,  thicket,  wood,  Sax. 

Scheete,  O.  1494,  shoot 

Scheltroun,  R.  5629,  Scheldtrome,  Scheldestrome,  O.  1505, 
1595,  army,  host,  probably  formed  in  the  form  of  a  tortoise, 
schild-truma,  Sax.    See  Dr  Jamieson,  in  voce  Schilthrum 

Schenche,  A.  7581,  pour  out,  drink,  scencan,  Sax,    Schenchitb, 

5 


436  GLOSSARY. 

A.  4482,  probably  the  same  as  sclmikit,  in  the  following 

lines  of  Gawain  and  Gologras : 

Thair  spers  in  splendris  sprent 
On  scheldis  schenkit  and  schent. 

Pinkerton  explains  it  burst,  and  Dr  Jamieson,  agitated,  shaken, 

from  the  German  schwenken.    Neither  of  these  explanations, 

however,  is  satisfactory.    The  word  schencheth  in  the  text, 

may  perhaps,  rythmi  gratia,  stand  for  schendeth,  i.  e.  ruins, 

destroys 
Schend,  put  to  shame,  defame,  ruin,  slay,  kill,  Sax. 
Schene,  shining,  splendid,  fair,  Sax. 
Schent,  A.  7113,  destroyed  ;  R.  1131,  put  to  shame,  undone. 

Schentschepe,  R.  4986,  shame,  punishment,  Sax. 
Scheome,  shame 
Scheotte,  shut 

Schepe,  A.  3577,  ship.     Schepynges,  shipping,  ships 
Scher,  cheer 

Schereue,  SS.  2547,  2564,  sheriff,  count 
Scherk,  R.  3632,  sark,  shirt,  Sax. 
Schette,  A.  1806,  shot,  pushed.    From  he  shette,  A.  2309, 

shot  away  from 
Schewere,  A.  18,  example 

Scheyd  hur  way,  H.  168,  showed  the  way  they  had  gone 
Schildre,  SS.  children 
Schillede,  SS.  1380,  sounded,  Sax. 
Schippe,  A.  1107,  skip 
Schof,  shoved 
Scholdron,  shoulders 
Schond,  shame,  Sax. 
Schop,  AA.  1042,  created,  Sax.  Hit  schopen  the,  A.  6970, 

have  destined  it  so  for  thee,  Sax. 
Schore,  sheared,  cut,  Sax. 
Schoure,  A.  3722,  scour,  ride  quick 
Schoutes,  R.  4785,  schuyts 
Schrede,  AA.  1045,  shroud,  dresse,  clothe,  cover 
Schrewe,  infamous,  ill-natured  person,  Sax. 
Schrilleth,  A.  777,  soundeth  shrilly 
Schroff,  R.  Shruved,  A.  6828,  shrove,  confessed,  Sax. 
Schryppe,  O.  1357,  a  pilgrim's  scrip 
Schuldren,  shoulders  ;  A.  6612,  backfins 
Schust,  shouldest 
Schyde,  A.  6421,  R.  1385,  billet  of  wood,  scide,  Sax.  scheit, 

Germ. 
Schylle,  O.  535,  563,  752,  shrill 
Schyngil,  A.  tiles,  or  rather  wooden  roofs,  Sax. 
Schypful,  He  had  thrytteue  schypfull  been,  R»  2882,  he  (the 


GLOSSARY.  437 

Mate-griffon,  or  rather  the  materials  of  it)  had  formed  the 

cargo  of  thirteen  ships 
Schyr,  R.  2646,  clear,  fair,  Sax. 
Schyue,  O.  1022,  shaped,  fitted? 
Scill,  SS.  3750,  skill,  right 

Sclaundre,  A.  741,  5993,  slander,  report,  fame,  Fr. 
Sclavyn,  R.  611,  a  pilgrim's  mantle,  esclavine,  O.Fr. 
Sclyces,  slices 
Scoff,  A.  5461,  joke 
Scole,  A.  1450,  school,  university 
Scoppe,  A.  5777,  scoop,  leap,  Sax. 
Score,  SS.  1019,  twenty  years  of  age 

Scomfited,  discomfited.     Scoumfyt,  Scounfithe,  discomfiture 
Screde,  O.  1676,  shroud,  dress 
Scrike,  shriek,  cry  out 
Scrowe,  scroll,  writing 
Scille,  SS.  941,  shall 
Secheth,  A.  4735,  visits,  Sax. 
Sedde,  R.  47,  said,  spoke  to,  importuned 
Sedewale,  A.  6793,  setwale 
Sef,  O.  747,  safe,  proper,  advisable 
Segedyn,  A.  2672,  besieged 
Segge,  say 
Segghen,  Segh,  saw 

Segh,  SS.  187,  seat.     Seght,  O.  1885,  seated 
Seignours,  A.  1458,  master,  lord,  Fr. 
Seilde,  Seilden,  A.  3298,  seldom,  Sax. 
Seise,  infeft,  put  in  possession  of,  Fr. 
Selcouth,  seldom  known,  strange,  wonderful,  Sax. 
Sele,  SS.  3483,  bliss,  prosperity,  Sax. 
Seler,  cellar 

Sem,  Werk  of  sem,  O.  1865,  sowing 
Semblabel,  like,  comparable,  Fr. 

Semblaunt,  appearance,  countenance,  manner,  fashion,  O.  Fr, 
Semblyd,  assembled 

Semely,  Semly,  seemly,  comely,  fair,  Sax. 
Sen,  since,  after,  Sax. 
Send,  C.  420,  saint 
Sene,  O.  1386,  seven 
Senas,  A.  477,  senate 
Sendel,  A.  1963,  R.  3965,  a  rich  thin  kind  of  silk  of  which 

standards  were  frequently  made,  particularly  the  celebrated 

oriflamme 
Seolk,  silk 

Seolle,  A.  3724,  Seolve,  self,  same 
Seon,  see.     On  to  seon,  A.  545,  to  look  upon,  Sax. 


438  GLOSSARY. 


Seone,  seven 

Seothe,  sith,  since 

Sere,  SS.  3769,  sore  ;  SS.  3728,  several,  many  ;  Am.  728,  sir. 

See  Weode 
Seres,  R.  3567,  sirs,  lords 
Serjeant,  soldier,  companion,  servant,  workman,  O.  Fr.    Ser- 

iaimce,  AA.  1894,  serjants 
Serued,  deserved 
Sese,  SS.  42,  see.    Sese,  C.  297,  cease.     Sessed,  SS.  781, 

ceased,  stopt.     Sese,  R.  2160,  put  in  possession.     Sesyd, 

infefted.    Sesyng,  A.  8015,  possession,  seisin 
Sethe,  Sethenis,  Seththen,  sith,  siththence,  since,  after,  Sax. 
Seue, seven 
Sewe,  follow,  pursue 
Sextou,  SS.  362,  seest  thou 
Seygh,  saw 

Seyn,  since  ;  A.  135,  say 
Seyngle,  R.  1067,  single,  alone 
Seyntes,  A.  6763,  holy,  Fi\ 
Seys,  cease 

Seysouns,  A.  5251,  time,  Fr. 
Seystow,  sayest  thou 

Seyt  by,  Am.  370,  thought  of,  still  a  common  phrase 
Seyth,  O.  153,  saw 
Shame,  I.  435,  be  ashamed 
Shelde,  R.  2054,  shoal,  coast,  rythmi  gratia 
Shent,  R.  2237,  put  to  shame,  Sax. 
Shete,  shoot.     Shetynde,  A.  4896,  shooting 
Shewer,  A.  4795,  witness 
Shone,  Won  his  shone,  I.  978,  a  phrase  similar  to  winning  the 

spurs,  which  a  young  knight  was  said  to  do  when  he  at- 

chieved  his  first  gallant  action.    See  Ritson's  Romances, 

III.  341. 
Shoneth,  A.  4919,  shunneth 
Shoten,  A,  5968,  shot,  pushed,  driven 
Shooff,  R.  Shove,  I.  1640,  shaved 
Shouen, shoved 
Shreden,  cloathed,  Sax. 
Shrette,  R.  2045,  shroud,  sails.     Perhaps  we  should  read 

Sprette,  i.  e.  the  bowsprit 
Shrightte,  A.  5738,  skrietched,  screamed,  Sax. 
Sibbe,  family,  relations,  Sax. 
Sichen,  SS.  1268,  saw 
Siclatoun,  a  rich  kind  of  stuff  which  was  brought  from  the 

east.    So  in  Partenopex  de  Blois : 

"  S'esgarde  vers  soleil  levant—— 


GLOSSARY.  439 

Par  la  li  poile  Alixandrin 
Vienent,  et  li  bon  siglaton" 
Sig,  Siggen,  say 

Sigyng,  A.  1662,  sieging,  besieging 
Signifiaunce,  meaning,  testimony,  O.  Fr. 
Sike,  Sikir,  sure,  Sax.    Sikir  pas,  A.  7066,  by  a  secure  pass. 

Sikeli,  Sikerliche,  surely 
Sinatour,  senator 

Sith,  Sithe,  since.     Many  sithe,  many  times.    Sith,  sees 
Sithen,  A.  5722,  scythes 
Siwen,  Siweye,  A.  4751,  sue,  follow 
Skalouns,  R.  6834,  shillings 
Skappe,  Am.  313,  escape 
Skarschliche,  A.  1012,  scarcely,  scantly  . 
Skeet,  R.  806, 1104,  readily,  quickly,  soon,  Sax. 
Skekkyng,  A.  3563,  battle  ;  skec,  contest,  Rob.  of  Glouc. 
Skele,  skill 

Skere,  AA.  843,  sheer,  free,  clear,  quit 
Skete,  A.  3049,  R.  5488,  early,  quickly 
Skile,  Skill,  cause,  reason,  right,  art,  Sax. 
Skinned,  A.  7386,  skirmished,  escrimer,  escaramoucher,  Fr. 
Skit,  quickly 

Sklaueyne,  O.  394,  see  Sclaveyne 
Sklaunder,  A.  5497,  fame,  renown,  Fr. 
Skriche,  scriech,  cry  out 
Skuyeris,  A.  6022,  squires 

Skyfte,  Am.  644,  656,  shift,  arrange,  deal  out,  divide 
Skvke,  A.  6076,  Skyking,  A.  6142,  6276,  contest,  fighting 
Skyl,  Skylle,  see  Skile 
Skymyng,  A.  1616,  skimming  or  gliding  along  like  wild-fire? 

I  suspect  we  should  read  Skyrmyng,  i.  e.  fighting 
Skyrme,  A.  662,  fence,  fight  with  the  sword,  escrimer,  Fr. 

Skyrmyng,  A.  672,  fencing,  fighting,  skirmishing 
Slake,  extinguish ;  C.  80,  go  silently,  schleichen,  Germ.    Slake 

a  boor  of  beer  boost,  R.  3837 
Slang,  A.  5538,  slung  himself,  leaped 
Slape,  sleep 

Slatyng,  A.  200,  slaying,  rythm.  grat. 
Slaueyn,  O.  1357,  see  Sclaveyn 
Slaught,  slay,  slaughter 
Sleeth,  Slen,  Sleth,  slay 
Slegh,  O.  1135,  sly,  cunning 
Sletten,  A.  2262,  slid,  fell 
Sleynt,  AA.  2279,  slipped.     Sleynt  him  in  the  lake,  AA,  2073, 

drenched  him  in  the  water  of  the  castle-moat 
Slider,  A  A.  1842,  slippery 


440  GLOSSARY. 

Slike,  such  like,  such 

Slo,  Sloo,  slay.     Slowen,  slew 

Slong,  slung,  flung 

Slow  witbinne,  A.  3886,  slow  of  spirit 

Slowe,  A.  6075,  sloughs,  morasses 

Slyke,  R.  5497,  see  Siike 

Smale,  To  laugh  smale,  A.  7239,  to  laugh  a  little 

Smart,  Ot  tale  beo  smart,  A.  4160,  thou  art  quicker  or  lively 

ot  speech.     See  Notes,  p.  310. 
Smerte,  smai  t,  pain 
Smerthe,  O.  853,  smartly 
Smete,  smote 
Smot,  A.  494,  rushed,  hastened.     The  use  of  the  word  is  no- 

ticed  by  Lye,  see  Diet.  Sax.  voce  Smitan 
Smulieth,  A.  0793,  smelleth 
Snache,  A.  6559,  pierce,  Dutch 
Snel,  quick,  quickly,  Sax. 
Snywith,  A.  6450,  snoweth 
So,  R.  138,  as 
Soden,  boiled,  Sax. 

Sogates,  SS.  2855,  thus,  in  such  a  manner 
Soget,  SS.  458,  subject,  Fr. 
Soile,  A.  7926,  assoil,  absolve,  Fr. 
Soht,  soth,  truth,  Sax. 
Sojour,  stay,  sojourn,  sejour,  Fr. 
Sok,  Soken,  O.  473,  A.  6119,  sucked 

Soket,  A.  4415,  a  blade,  O.Fr.  from  soke,  a  share  of  a  plough. 
— E.  The  word  scecg;  Sax.  a  sword,  supplied  both  the 
French  and  English  languages.  Yet  Ptolemy,  in  the  text, 
seems  to  wound  Octiater  with  the  banner,  for  he  would 
hardly  use  a  sword  at  the  same  time.  So  thai,  perhaps, 
soket  may  only  mean  the  steel  point  of  the  banner.— D. 
Tiie  pensel  was  generally  affixed  to  a  lance,  and  this  was 
probably  the  weapon  employed 
Sold,  should 

Someris,  sumpter,  or  baggage-horses,  Fr.  A.  5109,  here  the 
burden  put  on  the  baggaee-horses  or  mules  seems  to  be 
meant 
Sompter-man,  Am.  194,  the  man  who  had  the  care  of  the 

sumpter-horses 
Somoun,  summons 

Sond,  message,  messenger,  Sax.    Godes  sond,  God's  messen- 
ger, the  Messias 
Sonder,  asunder.     Sondres,  A.  3303,  sundry,  different 
Sones,  A.  1183,  sounds 
Soole,  soul 


GLOSSARY.  441 


Sopos,  suppose 

Sore,  Sorwe,  Sorn,  AA.  2033,  sorrow.    Sore,  C.  443,  sir 

Sot,  A.  6636,  soot 

Soth,  truth.     Sothfastly,  truly 

Sotile,  C.  102,  citole,  which  see 

Sotoned,  Akketoun,  A.  5150,  An  acketton,  (which  see)  made 
in  the  manner  of  a  soutane,  Fr.  explained  by  Cotgrave,  a 
long  and  loosse  coat  or  cassocke,  such  as  churchmen  wear 
under  their  gownes 

Souchede,  SS.  1438,  suspected.     Souchy,  L.  269,  suspect 

Sovne,  A.  98,  sound 

Sounde,  L.  51,  86,  health,  safety,  Sax. 

Soure,  A.  7002,  turn  sour 

Sourmoncie,  A.  595,  predominancy,  surmontement,  O.  Fr. 

Sowpy,  O.  755,  supper 

Sowter,  H.  205,  shoemaker 

Sparhauk,  O.  704,  sparrow-hawk 

Sparie,  A.  2624,  spare 

Sparlyre,  O.  330,  Spawdeler,  R.  5285,  armour  to  cover  the 
shoulders,  espaliers,  O.  Fr. 

Speciale,  A.  3288,  R.  2352,  particular  friend :  spccialis  was 
used  in  this  sense  in  the  middle  ages 

Speke,  Of  to  speke,  to  be  spoken  of 

Spell,  SS.  2,  tale,  history,  Sax. 

Sperid,  SS.  2948,  shut  up,  Sax. 

Speruer,  Spervyr,  A.  7141,  sparrow-hawk,  epervier,  Fr. 

Spill,  kill,  destroy.     Spilleth,  A.  1719,  spoils,  degenerates 

Spir,  SS.  3816, 3832,  inquire,  Sax.     Spiired,  A.  2569,  inquired 

Spise,  SS.  2311,  despise 

Splentes,  R.  4979,  splints,  armour  for  the  legs  and  arms,  ap- 
plied in  the  same  manner  as  splints 

Spon-newe,  A.  4055,  span-new,  newly  spun.  This  is  proba- 
bly the  true  explanation  of  spick  and  span  new.  Hire  ren- 
ders sping-spang,  plane  novus,  in  voce  fick-fack. — D. 

Sporn,  spurs 

Spousy,  espouse 

Sprad,  AA.  1317,  were  spread  over 

Spreden,  spread 

Spreot,  A.  858,  Sprette,  0. 601,  bowsprit 

Sprittest,  A.  979,  spittedst 

Spreuere,  O.  702,  see  Speruer 

Springal,  R.  1818,  4346,  machines  for  casting  stones  and  ar- 
rows, espringalle,  Fr. 

Spusseayl,  L.  334,  marriage,  Fr. 

Spyrie,  A.  2995,  "  A  spiry  sort  of  a  place,"  in  vulgar  cant, 
signifies,  I  believe,  a  gay  or  splendid  description  of  people, 


442  GLOSSARY. 

and  the  phrase  is  often  used  at  Eton. — P.  Perhaps  the 
■word  is  corrupted  from  Spreith,  Spree,  signifying  in  Scotch 
a  multitude.  If  this  be  the  meaning,  the  comma  at  the  end 
of  the  line  must  be  omitted 

Spysory,  spicery,  place  for  keeping  the  spices  in,  Fr. 

Squeymous,  L.  62,  Squoymous,  squeamish 

Sschench,  SS.  562,  draught,  Sax. 

Staat,  R.  1132,  estate,  establishment,  law 

Stable,  A.  7445,  firm 

Stabult,  H.  109,  established,  ready 

Staff-slyngeres,  R»  4454,  soldiers  who  throw  stones  out  of 
slinges  fastened  to  a  staff.  Staff  slings  are  mentioned  in 
Chaucer  and  Lydgate 

Stake,  A.  2835,  stroke 

Stalworthe,  stout,  brave,  courageous,  Sax. 

Standard,  A.  1995,  standard-bearer,  Fr. 

Stang,  stung 

Stapel,  SS.  201,  post 

Stapte,  O.  1435,  stepped 

Starf,  died,  Sax. 

Stark,  strong,  Sax. ;  H.  256,  stiff 

Stat,  Up  his  stat,  A.  2268,  from  the  stead  or  place  where  he 
lay? 

Stave,  R.  64,  rudder  ? 

Stede,  place,  Sax.     Stede  inne  thine,  SS.  1207,  in  thy  place 

Steegh,  A.  5826,  Steigh,  A.  5868,  Stegth,  Steghth,  SS.  905, 
climbed,  mounted,  mounteth,  Sax. 

Steke,  stick,  pierce,  Sax.  R.  4282,  stuck.  Ac  why  Y  have 
this  unliche  steke,  A.  69,  probably  steke,  as  Mr  Douce  con- 
jectures, is  the  participle  of  to  stake,  and  then  the  meaning 
of  the  passage  will  be,  But  why  I  have  this  only  hazarded 
or  explained,  ye  shall  hear  me  afterwards  account  for 

Stelene,  of  steel 

Stelendelich,  A.  5080,  by  stealth 

Steored,  A.  2779,  bestirred 

Steorne,  A.  511,  stern.     Steornemon,  A.  508,  astrologer,  Sax. 

Steorve,  die,  Sax. 

Steovene,  A.  6846,  prayer,  Sax. 

Sterd,  That  of  bestes  loked  an  sterd,  SS.  894,  that  looked 
after  and  managed  the  beasts  or  cattle 

Stere,  O.  1717,  bestir 

Sterk,  strong  ;  stark,  thoroughly 

Stern,  Sterre,  star.    Sterre,  A.  4437,  thorns  ?  street,  Sax. 

Slerve,  die 

Steryd,  R.  5020,  bestirred 

Stet,  A.  4146,  stayed 


GLOSSARY.  443 

Sti,  SS.  712,  place.    The  word  occurs  in  Sir  Tristren],  p.  151. 

Stick,  A.  1258,  sticked,  pierced.     Stike,  A.  4725,  pierce,  Sax. 

Stikilliche,  A.  219,  eagerly,  with  emotion  j  sticel,  Sax.  stimu- 
lus 

Stilliche,  silently,  Sax. 

Stint,  stop,  leave  off 

Stirt,  started 

Stithe,  AA.  1303,  firm,  strong 

Stod  the  dont,  A.  3709,  stopped  the  dint  or  blow 

Stode,  O.  795,  stud 

Stoke,  Stokyn,  I.  1863,  shut,  Sax, 

Stokkes,  sticks 

Stole,  A.  4714,  robe  of  royalty,  Fr. 

Stont,  stands.  That  no  stont  none  doute,  A.  2648,  that  they 
stood  in  no  doubt  or  fear 

Stony e,  stun,  astonish 

Stoor,  store 

Storuen,  A.  5082,  died,  Sax. 

Slouer,  Stoveris.  A.  1866,  provision,  fodder ;  estovoir,  neces- 
saries, Fr.  The  word  is  still  used  in  Essex  and  other  coun- 
ties 

Stounde,  L.  206,  hour;  time,  Sax.  Oft  stoundys,  O.  893, 
many  times 

Stoure,  fight,  battle ;  adj.  strong,  Sax, 

Stowe,  A.  1209,  stole 

Straught,  O.  959,  stretched, 

Strawed,  A.  1026,  strewed 

Stremes,  I.  1938,  streamers,  pendants 

Stren,  Streon,  SS.  574,  1059,  stock,  race,  progeny  ;  A.  511, 
child,  Sax.  Streoneth,  A.  7057,  conceive,  bear  children,  Sax. 

Streorren,  A.  1537,  stars 

Stroie,  Strwe,  SS.  2756,  Struys,  O.  482,  destroy,  destroys 

Strond,  strand,  shore 

Strykkyd,  struck 

Strype,  R.  3399,  strip 

Stubbe,  I.  1270,  stump,  stake,  Sax. 

Stude,  stead,  place,  Sax. 

Stupte,  O.  1141,  stooped 

Sty,  SS.  3295,  staircase,  stiege,  Germ. 

Styd,  Am.  166,  steed,  horse 

Stygh,  climb,  Sax. 

Styked,  sticked,  pierced 

Stylle,  R.  177,  modest 

Styndyd,  H.  237,  stinted,  stopped.     Stynte,  stop 

Styrte,  R.  3272,  start,  fall 

Styvour,  A.  2571,  an  ancient  wind-instrument,  perhaps  peciu 


444  GLOSSARY. 

liar  to  the  Cornwall  of  Bretagne.  The  romance  of  Cleo- 
mades  thus  speaks  of  it: 

Harpes  et  rotes  et  canons 
Et  estivcs  de  Cornouaille. 
It  is  also  mentioned  in  an  ancient  life  of  the  Empress  Matilda, 
cited  by  Du  Cange  : 

"  Tympana  cum  cylharis,s£imque  lyrisque  sonant  hie." — D. 
According  to  Roquefort  it  was  a  kind  of  trumpet  or  a  bag- 
pipe 

Styward,  steward 

Suanes,  R.  199,  swains,  male  children 

Suffer,  R.  3253,  forbear,  Fr. 

Sumdel,  some  deal,  some  part,  Sax, 

Sumpteris,  A.  6023,  attendants  on  the  baggage 

Sunnes,  R.  2635,  perhaps  fire-works,  or  engines  in  the  shape 
of  suns,  made  of  Grecian  fire 

Surcot,  O.  If  80,  upper  coat  or  kirtle,  Fr. 

Susten,  AA.  If  9,  sustain,  maintain,  Fr. 

Sustieon,  sisters 

Suththe,  sith,  since,  after 

Swa,  so 

Sway,  A.  280t,  noise,  swey,  Sax. 

Swaynes,  swains,  youths.    A.  14f ,  here  it  seems  to  be  applied 
to  squires 

Swe,  H.  151,  sue,  follow 

Swelte,  R.  4030,  died,  Sax. 

Swerd,  A.  5950,  swart,  black,  Sax. 

Swere,  neck,  Sax. 

Swete,  Lost  the  swete,  R.  6992,  perhaps  lost  the  suite,  or  re- 
gular train  of  the  army,  stayed  behind 

Swetyng,  A.  9f3,  love,  leman 

Sweuen,  dream,  Sax. 

Swhe,  L.  261,  so 

Swier,  SS.  2950,  squire 

Swithe,  quickly,  Sax. 

Swogliened,  A.  5077,  swooned 

Swoke,  O.  566,  suck.     Swokyn,  O.  308,  sucked 

Swoll,  swelled 

Swonand,  swooning 

Swonke,  R.  3762,  laboured,  Sax. 

Sworcd,  A.  975,  neck,  sivere,  Sax. 

Svvole,  sweet.     Swot  reed,  O.  1022,  f 045,  sweat-red  ? 

Swowc,  swoon 

Swtc,  suite 

Swychc,  such 

Swyke,  R.  408t,  fraud,  deceit,  trap,  Sax. 


GLOSSARY."  445 

Swynke,  labour,  Sax.  Tlier  aboute  n'ul  Y  swynke,  A.  541, 
I  will  not  give  myself  the  trouble  to  describe  the  entertain- 
ment 

Swyde,  O.  305,  Swyght,  quickly,  immediately,  Sax, 

Swyers,  A.  3394,  squires 

Swyre,  neck,  Sax. 

Sybbe,  relationship,  Sax. 

Syde,  O.  110,  sithe,  time 

Sye,  C.  370,  Syen,  Sygh,  saw 

Sygaldrye,  A.  7015,  empty  nonsense.  Sigale  is  explained  by 
Lacombe  as  synonymous  with  evente,  evapore' 

Sygge,  say,  Sax. 

Syghth,  O.  1824,  sith,  since 

Syghte,  A.  6830,  sighed.     Syghthyng,  sighing 

Syke,  L.  119,  sigh.     Sykyd,  R.  931,  sighed 

Syke,  sicken.     Syke  things,  R.  2839,  sick  persons 

Syment,  cement 

Synyght,  Am.  590,  sevennight,  week 

Sythe,  Turee  sythe,  R.  2096,  three  times 

Sytlryn,  sith,  since,  after 

Sytolyng,  A.  1043,  playing  on  the  citole,  a  sort  of  harp  or  dul- 
cimer, Fr. 

Sytton,  sat 

Sywcn,  follow 

Tabard,  A.  5476,  a  short  mantle  worn  by  soldiers  and  eccle- 
siastics, O.  Fr. 

Taboures,  drums,  Fr. 

Tail,  A.  2217,  slaughter,  taill,  O.  Fr. 

Taile,  A.  2133,  cut  to  pieces,  tattler,  Fr. 

Taisand,  SS.  1978,  poising,  holding  ready  for  throwing 

Taketh,  A.  4829,  reaehetli.  How  schal  Y  take  on  myn  amour, 
A.  422,  how  shall  I  manage  my  love 

Takyl,  R.  1392,  tackle,  things  belonging  to,  or  necessary  for, 
Sax. 

Talant,  A.  1280,  disposition  of  the  mind,  pleasure,  good  will, 
humour,  Fr. 

Tale,  A.  7007,  talk,  speech,  Sax.  The  tale  of  heom  all  he 
nam,  A.  6915,  he  took  tiie  speech  of  ali,  conveyed  the  ge- 
neral opinion 

Tale,  A.  5617,  R.  2316,  count,  number,  account,  Sax.  To 
give  no  tale,  R.  4344,  to  make  no  account  of 

Talent,  A.  1559,  R.  3074,  see  Talant.  Al  to  talent,  al  to 
their  wish,  <1  talent,  a  plaisir,  Fr. 

Taleth,  A.  1415,  cry,  speak,  Sax. 

Tallyng,  A.  5932,  tilling 


446  GLOSSARY. 

Talt,  pitched,  see  Teilde 

Tame,  I.  363,  probably  tane,  take,  rythmi  gratia 

Tane,  Am.  149,  possession 

Tapnage,  In  lapnage,  A.  7131,  7540,  secretly,  mysteriously, 

en  tapenage,  O.  Fr.    Tapenage,  a  place  of  confinement 
Tar,  there 

Tare,  A.  4722,  tore  ;  we  still  say,  as  fast  as  they  could  tear 
Targe,  R.  2790,  tarrying 
Targe,  A.  2785,  R.  4355,  a  combination  of  shields  like  the 

Roman  tortoise,  on  which  the  assailants  mounted  to  attack 

those  on  the  walls 
Tase,  takes 
Taste,  Tasty,  SS.  1048,  AA.  1401,  touch,  feel,  probe,  tastw, 

Fr.    Tastyng,  A.  3043,  trying 
Taught,  O.  869,  betaught,  gave 
Taylard,  R.  724,  2112,  a  term  of  reproach,  the  etymology  of 

which  seems  to  be  explained  in  v.  R.  2113 
Te,  Tee,  L.  49,  R.  5137,  SS.  785,  go,  draw  towards,  teoghan, 

Sax.    AA.  1599,  thee 
Teilde,  A.  1975,  pitched  tents ;  telde,  Sax.  a  tent 
Tem,  R.  6913,  Teme,  race,  family 
Temde,  Am.  497,  509,  teemed,  emptied 
Temped,  SS.  2893,   intimidated,  afraid  j    timeur,  Fr.   timor, 

Lat.  fear 
Ten,  Tene,  harm,  dispute,  anger,  [grief,  Sax.     I.  1760,  to 

grow  angry 
Ten  so  glad,  ten  times  as  glad 
Tence,  A.  3025,  cause  of  dispute,  O.  Fr. 
Tentes,  SS.  35,  attends,  hears 
Tenure,  tenour,  contents 
Teo,  A.  719,  Teon,  A.  6954,  see  Te 
Ter,  there 
Ternes  and  quernes,  R.  2009,  thrusts  in  fencing,  or  blows 

with  the  broad-sword 
Teste,  A.  7112,  head,  Fr. 

Teth,  teeth.    Thries  set  teth,  A.  7112,  three  rows  of  teeth 
Tha,  those 
Thai,  though 
Than,  O.  553,  den 
Thankyng,  Tn  much  nede  is  great  thankyng,  A.  4065,  men  in 

distress  are  profuse  in  thanks 
Thar,  Am.  513,  dare  need 
Tharf,  AA.  935,  dare 
That,  A.  4656,  they  that ;  A.  7543,  till  that.    Thatow,  that 

thou 
The,  generally,  for  distinction's  sake,  marked  with  an  accent 


GLOSSARY.  447 

thus,  The,  thee  j  also  thrive,  sometimes  marked  The ;  also 

frequently,  (e.  g.  R.  2630),  they 
Thede,  dwelling;  A.  7959,  R.  6518,  land,  kingdom,  country, 

theod,  Sax.     A.  96,  power,  strength,  from  thy  dan,   Sax. 

comprimere 
Thedom,  SS.  587,  thrift,  growth,  Sax. 
Thee,  thrive,  Sax. 
Thefende,  O.  594,  defend 
Thegh,  thigh 
Thei,  though 
Thenche,  think 
Thenne,  thence 
Theo,  the,  than,  when 
Theofliche,  A.  4902,  like  a  thief 
There,  O.  812,  dear 
Theran,  Couthe  theran,  L.  196,  could  thereof,  was  able  to 

suckle  the  child 
Theremyd,  A.  1160,  therewith 
Theretille,  thereto 
Therst,  O.  205,  287,  thirst 
Therwhiles,  meanwhile 
Tbester,  R.  4906,  the  eastern  ?    Perhaps  "  Thefter  stede,"  the- 

after,  or  hindmost  place 
Thewe,  Undur  thevve,  A.  1406,  reduced  to  subjection,  tJieowe, 

Sax. 
Thewes,  A.  7495,  manners,  qualities,  Sax. 
Theygh,  though  ;  A.  7461,  tho,  then,  when 
Thilk,  this  or  that,  same,  Sax. 
Thir,  those 
This,  (often)  these 
Tho,  then,  when  ;  those 
Thof,  Thoffe,  though 
Thold,  O.  634,  told 
Thole,  Tliolie,  suffer,  Sax. 
Tholmod,  patient,  Sax. 
Thon,  then,  Sax. 
Thonged,  SS.  154,  thanked 
Thonking,  thanking,  reward.    Heore  thonkyng,  they  mowe 

be  siker,  Y  sehal  yelde  wel  this  byker,  A.  1660,  they  may 

be  sure  I  shall  yield  them  their  reward  for  this  fighting  well 
Thonryght,  downright 
Thor,  Thore,  there 

Thorlith,  A.  2394,  thirleth,  pierceth,  Sax, 
Thoth,  O.  598,  doth 
Thoughte  of,  SS.  2286,  suspected 
Thousyng,  thousand 


448  GLOSSARY. 

Thour,  through 

Thralle,  slave,  peasant,  Sax. 

Thrawe,  throw,  time.  Thrawes,  A.  606,  throws,  pains.  Thraw- 
eth,  A.  5673,  throw 

Three,  Of  three,  into  three  pieces 

Threscwold,  H.  260,  threshold 

Thretyng,  threatning 

Thridde  party s,  A.  6859.  Thriddendale,  A.  5161,  third  part. 
Thridborro,  H.  199,  magistrate  in  a  village 

Thrie,  thrice 

Thring,  throng,  press 

Throwe,  A.  1822,  pain.  The  word  is  now  only  used  in  the 
plural.     In  a  throwe,  On  a  throw,  R.  2888,  in  a  heap 

Thrust,  Thurst,  thirst 

Thrynge,  throng 

Thurled,  A.  2415,  see  Thorlith 

Thuse,  these 

Thus  gat,  SS.  2823,  in  this  manner 

Tide,  time.  Two  tides  of  the  nighttes,  A.  5327,  two  of  the 
divisions  into  which  the  night  was  divided.  According  to 
an  ancient  book  in  the  lower  German  dialect  (Speygel  der 
Leyen,  i.  e.  the  mirrour  for  laymen,  Lubeck,  1496)  the 
twenty-four  hours  were  divided  into  prime,  tierce,  sext,  none, 
vesper,  fall  of  night,  and  metten  (i.  e.  nightly  mass) 

Tight,  A  A.  1697,  promised 

Tight,  R.  4700,  Tit,  Tite,  soon,  quickly.     Tit,  betide 

Tire,  attire,  dress 

Tithang,  tithing,  news 

To,  too ;  SS.  3470,  Am.  33,  36,  till 

To-berst,  burst 

To-brent,  burnt 

To-cleft",  To-cleueth,  A.  5674,  clove,  burst  in  two 

To-coon,  A.  573,  dissolved,  Sax. 

To-drawe,  To-drowe,  A.  6118,  To-drough,  O.  200,  drawn* 
tore  asunder,  quartered 

Toelh,  A.  5723,  teeth 

To-flatt,  A.  5833,  flattened 

To-fore,  before 

To-frapped,  R.  2205,  struck,  smote  to  pieces,  Ft: 

To-frete,  devour,  Sax. 

To-froche,  A.  1887,  crushed,  see  Frusche 

To-gnowe,  gnawed 

To-hewe,  hewni:o  pieces 

Tok,  A.  1177,  Toke,  A.  3935,  I.  782,  betook,  delivered,  gv  I 

Tokneth,  betokens 


GLOSSARY.  449 

Told  him  of  Olimpias,  A.  1101,  this  seems  to  mean  that  Lifias 
accused  her  to  Alexander 

Tole,  A.  815,  the  tool,  instrument,  i.  e,  the  sword.  The  Bodl. 
MS.  reads  perhaps  better  colere 

To-lonst,  A.  1631,  lanced,  i.  e.  pierced  with  javelins 

Tome,  SS.  3,  a  curious  alteration  of  the  word  time  for  the  sake 
of  the  rhyme 

Took  in  mynde,  R.  667,  was  offended 

Toon,  the  one 

Toppe,  A.  5186,  head 

Torellis,  turrets,  small  towers,  Fr, 

To-rent,  R.  1075,  To-ronde,  A.  7881,  rent,  tore  to  piece* 

To-reve,  To-rofe,  To-rove,  rove,  split  asunder 

Torforth,  A.  3205 

Tornay,  tournament 

To-saue,  AA.  1624,  saving,  except 

Toss,  R.  4278 

Tossches,  tusks 

To-tereth,  tear  to  pieces 

Ton,  thou 

Tourneys,  Whyt  tourneys,  R.  2856,  livres  Tournois  of  silver. 
A  livre  Tournois  was  a  small  money  coined  at  Tours.  The 
Parisian  livre  was  surrounded  by  fifteen  fleurs  de  lis,  that  of 
Tours  by  twelve  only.  The  former  was  worth  25  sous,  the 
latter  20  only 

Tout  entour,  A.  7801,  all  around,  Fr, 

Towh,  A.  2454,  6241,  tough 

Towrelles,  R.  1841,  see  Torellis 

Toxe,  A.  6213,  tusk 

To-yede,  went  asunder 

Trace,  Tokyn  a  trace,  A.  7771,  retired,  from  traxir,  O.  Fr, 

Traid,  SS.  523,  Trayed,  A.  3046,  Trayde,  R.  1824, 1995,  an- 
gered,  enraged 

Trayn,  SS.  680,  anger 

Trappe,  A.  3421,  Trappen,  Trappure,  trapping,  horse  capa- 
rison 

Trayeres,  R.  4785,  long  boats,  resembling  trays  or  troughs 

Traystes,  trusts 

Tie,  Tree,  timber.  Tre-castel,  R.  1859,  1866,  castles  or  bat- 
tering machines  made  of  wood.  Trene  rynde,  A.  6187, 
bark  of  trees 

Trendelyd,  R.  4506,  trickled 

Trent,  SS.  2370,  to-rent,  tore  to  pieces 

Trepeiettes,  R.  5225,  a  species  of  catapulta,  see  Du  Cang« 
in  v.  Trebuchetum 

Tresond,  practised  treason 
vol..  j u.  f  f 


450  GLOSSARY. 

Tresteles,  R.  102,  Trestes,  SS.  3874,  trestles 

Treye,  AA.  1572,  trouble,  Sax. 

Trist,  L.  291,  trusted 

Trogh,  A.  6889,  tree 

Trole,  Am.  460,  truly 

Tronchon,  A.  3745,  the  wooden  part  of  a  broken  spear.  Tron- 

soun,  SS.  819,  piece,  fragment,  Fr. 
Trouage,  Trowage,  tribute,  Fr. 
Troue,  A.  7465,  hole,  Fr. 

Trough,  A.  6773,  6829,  Trowe,  A.  4770,  6762,  tree 
Troye,  H.  2,  trow,  trust 
Trusle,  R.  2143,  rythmi  gratia  for  trust 
Trussen,  A.  7006,  make  ready ;  literally  to  load  the  horse  with 

the  baggage,  trusser,  O.  Fr. 
Tryacle,  A.  5071,  a  remedy  for  poison,  powerful  in  the  esti- 
mation of  our  ancestors  ;  corrupted  from  theriaque 
Trye,  0. 1467,  tried,  experienced  ;  R.  6450,  tried,  found  of 

the  standard  of  gold 
Tryffe,  Am.  570,  thrive 
Tryse,  At  a  tryse,  I.  392,  in  a  trice 
Tuely  silk,  R.  67, 1516,  probably  from  toile  desoie,  Fr.  silken 

stuff 
Tuez,  kill,  Fr. 

Turnyng,  A.  195,  674,  tourneying,  justing 
Tussh,  A.  5189,  Tushes,  Tuxes,  A.  6546,  Tuxlys,  O.  929, 

tusks 
Tweol,  twelve  * 

Twoo,  to 
Tyde,  Tydde,  Tyddes,  R.  1696,  betide,  happened.    Tydes, 

R.  4694,  belongs.    Tydys,  R.  3056,  tidings 
Tyffen,  A.  4109,  to  ornament,  probably  from  tyfran,  Sax.  to 

paint.    The  word  still  remains  in  the  distant  provinces 
Tyght,  R.  1556,  6492,  intended,  promised ;  A.  4485,  gone, 

led,  Sax. 
Tylde,  see  Teilde.    Tylde,  Am.  375,  reckoned,  Sax. 
Tymbres,  timbrels 
Tyne,  loose.    Tynt,  lost 
Tyranne,  A.  7599,  tyrants 
Tyre,  attire 
Tyle,  R.  2515,  soon,  quickly 

Uaile,  A.  4653,  bewailed 

Vaii-,  A.  1001,  SS.  2158,  truly,  Ft. 

Vauassour,  SS.  1666,  Vauyssour,  0. 1613,  Velasours,  A.  3395, 

generally  copyholders,  an  inferior  kind  of  gentry,  Fr. 
Vaumpes,  SS.  843,  shoes,  to  vamp  shoes  is  still  to  clout  them 
Vawmeward,  R.  4025,  vanguard 


GLOSSARY.  431 


Vawtes,  A.  7210,  vaults 

Vche,  each.    Uchon,  each  one 

Veire,  A.  5676,  truly,  Fr. 

Velasours,  see  Vauassour 

Velony,  villainy 

Venery,  hunting,  game,  Fr. 

Venge,  Al  we  shall  us  venge  fond,  *R.  1835,  we  will  all  try 

to  revenge  ourselves 
Venkud,  vanquished 
Ventayle,  vizor 

Venn,  R.  1074,  jump,  leap,  Fr. 
Venyme,  A.  2860,  envenomed 
Veolth,  filth 

Verament,  Verannent,  truly,  Fr. 
Verd,SS.  612,  tared 
Verger,  A.  1920,  orchard 
Vertuous,  A.  5244,  large,  vigorous,  Fr. 
Veser,  vizour 

Vessel,  R.  1488,  all  the  appurtenances  of  the  table,  Fr. 
Vetuse,  A.  7948,  old,  vetus,  Lat. 
Veyre,  A.  5679,  truth 
Vice,  SS.  1415,  wicked  one 
Vie,  SS.  1028,  envy 
Vigour,  A.  1524,  figure 
Villiche,  vilely,  shamefully 

Vilte,  villaiuy,  Fr. 

Vis,  countenance,  Fr.    In  vis,  in  the*  face 

Vnbelde,  SS.  620,  grow  less  bold  or  strong,  decay 

Vnderade,  SS.  297,  Underntide,  the  third  hour  of  the  arti- 
ficial day,  nine  of  the  clock  in  the  morning 

Underfengen,  Underfong,  R.  743.  Underryng,  A.  5532,  Un** 
durfonge,  A.  7061,  undertake,  receive  ;  received,  Sax. 

Undergo,  AA.  603,  understand,  be  informed  of 

Undergyngeth,  A.  3683,  undergo,  contrive 

Vnderlout,  SS-  2838,  under  servant 

Undersette,  SS.  2101,  under-prop,  Sax. 

Undoing,  SS.  2352,  explanation,  Sax. 

Vnhele,  uncovered,  made  known,  Stat, 

Vnhende,  uncourteous 

Unkek,  SS.  955,  unopened 

Unkowth,  unknown 

Vnlek,  unlocked 

Unleventhe,  R.  eleventh 

Unliche,  A.  69,  only 

Unlossoin,  A.  6423,  unlovesome,  unlovely 

Unplye,  A.  #000,  open,  unfolded 


452  GLOSSARY. 

Vnskere,  AA.  780,  unfold,  discover 

Unskyl,  R.  541,  want  of  skill 

UnstOkyn,  unshut 

Vnswade,  O.  302,  unswath,  take  off  the  swaddling  clothes 

Unthanks,  R.  2208,  ingratitude,  Sax. 

Vntold,  O.  821,  uncounted 

Unwexe,  R.  2844,  decrease 

UnWrain,  AA.  783,  Unwren,  A.  7033,  Unwreone,  uncover,  dis- 
cover, unfold,  Sax. 

Unwrast,  Unwrest,  A.  878,  SS.  1919,  R.  872,  vile,  base,  Sax. 

Unwyvvely,  R.  6744,  unwifelike,  ungently 

Voche saffe,  Am.  570,  Vouchsave,  frequently  divided  in 

this  manner 
Voidud,  cleared,  voided 
Volatyle,  R.  4225,  birds 
Von,  C.  313,  wone,  usage 
Up,  A.  228,  R.  3875,  upon 
Upberande,  bearing  or  holding  up 
Uphent,  caught  up 

Uppurest,  A.  7068,  uppermost,  situated  furthest  up  the  coun- 
try 
Uprape,  start  up 
Uprisynde,  rising  up 
Up-take,  taken  up 
Vt,  out 

Vyf,  O.  1231,  five 
Vygoure,  A.  7689,  figure 
Vyliche,  vilely 
Vynnes,  A.  6591,  fins 
Vys,  A.  5954,  face,  visage,  sight,  Fr. 
Vytaile,  provisions  and  necessaries  of  all  sorts 

Wail-awo,  wellaway 

Wait,  Waite,  watch,  centinel,  guaite,  Fr. 

Waiteth,  R.  1733,  thinks  on,  intends 

Wallyng,  A.  1622,  boiling,  weallan,  Sax.    Still  a  provincial 

word  in  Scotland  and  the  north  of  England 
Walmes,  SS.  2461,  (Balls,  in  the  black-letter  prose  tale,)  "  A 

little  boil  over  the  fire." — Bayley.      Evidently  connected 

with  the  former  word 
Wandlessour,    I.  387,   probably  corrupted  from  Vavassour, 

which  see 
Wane,  Good  wane,  SS.  2818,  isi  good  manner,  gallantly 
AVanne,  A.  6363,  when 
Ward,  Wardith,  Wardy,  guard  ;  Wards,  R.  1765,  charge.  That 

us  off  our  warde  fel,  R.  2684,  which  contributed  to  our  dc- 


t 


GLOSSARY.  453 

fence.    To  the  ward,  A.  4005,  towards  thee.    To  Pors- 

ward,  A.  4556,  towards  Poms,  &c. 
W*are,  R.  636,  aware.     Men  that  traveld  in  lande  of  ware, 

C.  16,  in  land  of  war,  or,  perhaps,  that  travelled  through 

the  country  with  ware  or  goods,  pedlars 
Warentmentis,  A.  7443,  garments,  military  apparel,  game* 

mens,  Fr.     Warniamentum  is  often  used  in  this  sense  by 

Latin  writers  of  the  middle  ages 
Warie,  A.  4727,  beware  of,  guard  from 
Warischt,  SS.  1097,  recovered,  Fr. 
Warre,  ware 

Warryd,  R.  6500,  Am.  20,  abused,  cursed,  Sax. 
Warysoun,  Warsoun,  A.  2512,  booty,  reward,  heJp,  cure 
Was,  L.  312,  whose 
Wast,  A.  2420,  belly,  Sax. 
Wasten,  Wastyn,  waste 
Watc,  R.  6043,  to  bear  upon? 
Wate,  SS.  3975,  subst.  wile,  harm,  blame 
Watte,  knew.     Noght  all  the  sothe  watte,  Am.  319,  no  one 

ever  knew  the  truth  of  all  things 
Wawe,  Wawen,  A.  1164,  wag,  wave,  shake,  wagian.  Sax. 
Wawe,  A.  5018,  subst.  waves 
Wax,  grow,  Sax.     Wax  more  to  the  fulle,  A.  4165,  larger 

grown,  of  a  larger  size 
Waxed,  R.  783,  smeared  with  wax 
Way,  A.  7646,  away 
Waytes,  Wayts,  R.  2281,  watch,  sentinels,  musicians,  guaites, 

Fr. 
Wechche,  SS.  1628,  wake 
Wed,  A,  882,  pledge,  pawn,  Sax.    To  wede  sett,  C.  62,  Wed- 

deseyt,  Am.  32,  lent  out  on  pledge,  mortgaged 
Weddurs,  weathers,  tempests 
Wede,  Wedeu,  clothing,  Sax.    Iron  wede,  armour 
Weel,  R.  4786,  goods,  necessaries 
Ween,  suppose,  Sax.    Withonten  ween,  R.  5358,  not  on  mere 

supposition 
Weffe,  R.  5291,  cut.     See  Weved 
Welde,  A.  45f  4,  wield,  govern,  possess,  Sax. 
Wem,  Wemme,  AA.  2406,  R.  1090,  scar,  Sax. 
Wende,  weened,  supposed,  Sax. 
Wende,  go,  Sax.     Wendyng,  going.     Wende  ne  might,  SS. 

1035,  could  not  go.    Went,  A.  1136,  gone 
Wene,  suppose,  guess,  Sax. 
Wenne,  SS.  2581,  winning,  possession 
Weod,  weed.    The  weodto  sere,  A.  796,  to  dry  the  weeds 

for  the  purpose  of  burning  them 


454  GLOSSARY. 

Weorred,  A.  2780,  defended,  Sax. 

Werameut,  truly 

Werch,  work 

Were,  A.  5336,  Wereth,  A.  5295,  defend 

Werhedlyng,  R.  2011,  head  of  the  war,  commander 

Wering,  growing 

Werlde,  world 

Werne,  A.  7557,  warn,  take  warning  from 

Were,  R.  577,  worse.  Detli  wenes,  A.  1207,  deadly  wea- 
pons or  engines  ? 

Werren,  wars.  Werry,  to  wage  war.  Werrende,  Werrynges, 
warring,  engaged  in  war 

Werye,  A.  3533,  6768,  guard,  defend,  Sax.  Weryng,  A.  2798, 
7393,  defending 

Wessail,  R.  4506,  wassel,  rejoicing 

West,  A.  238,  shows,  ivesan,  Sax.     See  Notes,  p.  294 

West,  R.  819,  knowest,  Sax. 

Weterly,  SS.  3173,  utterly 

Wetherwynes,  A.  5105,  enemies,  Sax. 

Wette,  wete,  know 

Weved,  Wevyd,  A.  3807,  3839,  R.  3000,  6083,  cut  off,  divid- 
ded  from.  Chaucer  uses  it  as  a  neuter  verb  in  the  sense  of 
to  depart 

Wex,  Wexen,  grew,  became,  Sax.    Wexe,  wax 

Weyd,  Am.  363,  pledge,  Sax. 

Weye,  Wei  or  weye,  A.  3449,  weal  or  woe 

Weyes,  A.  6754,  wisdom  ? 

Weyte,  Am.  440,  wight,  brave,  gallant 

What,  SS.  336,  while,  till 

What,  Whate,  A.  6137,  2639,  5534,  quickly,  hvat,  Sax. 

Whatsom,  SS.  3055,  whatsoever 

Wlieym,  SS.  3271,  who 

While,  A.  735,  will 

Whilem,  whilom,  once,  on  a  time 

Whiles,  A.  7131,  meanwhile 

Wisilk,  which 

Whitter,  whiter,  fairer 

Whonyiig,  O.  636,  dwelling,  SaxK 

Whyt,  wight,  bold,  Sax. 

Whytc,  6.  280,  wite,  know 

Whytyd,  R.  3231,  bribed  with  silver 

Wicliss,  SS.  2519,  show,  make  known,  tvisan,  Sax. 

Widder,  against,  Sax.    A.  3156,  besides 

Wide  and  side,  SS.  1687,  everywhere.  Widc-whar,  SS.  238, 
far  on  every  side 


GLOSSARY.  455 

Wight,  strong,  active,  powerful,  Sax.  person,  Sax.  AA.  247, 
weight.  SS.  a  small  part,  Sax.  A.  2925,  roused,  awaked. 
Wightty,  A.  5362,  a  small  space  of  time.  Wiglittes,  plural 
of  wight,  strong,  powerful.  Wightlyeh,  boldly,  strongly, 
actively.    Wightness,  A.  5001,  boldness,  activity 

Wikke,  wicked 

Wil,  SS.  1644,  while 

Wild,  L.  85,  willed 

Will,  C.  136,  well 

Wilthow,  Wiltow,  wilt  thou 

Wis,  L.  236,  show,  teach,  Sax.  Y  wis,  I  know ;  generally  an 
expletive.    As  wis,  A  A.  1292,  1295,  as  certainly 

Wise,  a  sage,  a  wise  man.  In  water  wise,  A.  5148,  expert  in 
the  water,  i.  e.  at  swimming 

Wissen,  A.  7208,  show,  direct,  instruct,  Sax. 

Wit,  SS.  2840,  Wite,  Witen,  know,  Sax. 

With,  A.  3823,  against 

With  that,  With  thi,  on  condition  that 

With-clepe,  A.  1301,  With-say,  protest  against 

With-say,  refuse,  deny,  challenge.    Withseith,  A.  7235,  denies 

With-sette,  R.  withstand 

Witti-stent,  withstood 

With-sterte,  R.  5390,  withstand,  rytk.  gr. 

Withthe,  A.  4714,  halter 

Witterlye,  AA.  2261,  utterly 

Withervvynes,  R.  6012,  enemies,  Sax. 

Woch,  Woch  hit  save,  Am.  352, 1  vouchsafe  it 

Wod,  Wode,  madness,  a  mad  trick,  mad;  I.  1144,  to  grow  an- 
gry, mad,  Sax. 

Wodewale,  A.  6793,  generally  a  bird,  but  here  a  plant,  proba- 
bly the  wild  thyne,  ivudujille,  Sax. 

WTogh,  0. 1050,  crooked,  bent,  Sax. 

Woke,  O.  612,  weeks 

Wol,  R.  1280,  1284,  well,  very 

Wold,  A.  6716,  R.  5695,  AA.  2081,  government,  manage- 
ment, possession,  Sax. 

Wolden-eighed,  A.  5274,  wall-eyed,  as  we  still  say  of  a  horse 

Wollith,  willeth 

Wombe,  A.  6622,  belly 

Wombelyng,  A.  5674,  womb 

Won,  Am.  H.  one 

Won,  R.  3548,  plenty,  R.  6789,  use,  practise,  Sax.  - 

Wond,  Wonde,  AA.  550,  2098,  R.  228,  258,  wait,  stay,  leave, 
Sax. 

Wone,  I.  2051,  dwelling,  Sax.  A.  6285,  7460,  habit,  usage, 
custom,  Sax.  R.  3747,  plenty.     Much  wone,  A.  1468,  great 


456  GLOSSARY. 


numbers.     Ne  were  thou  wone  be  gode  and  mild,  SS.  672, 

(see  ib.  v.  990),  thou  wert  not  wont  to  be  otherwise  than 

good  and  mild 
Wonet,  wont 

Wonye,  O.  528,  dwell.    Wonying,  dwelling,  Sax. 
Woonde,  Am.  33,  owand,  owing 
Woot,  see  Wot 
Wopen,  wept 
Wordely,  worthy 
Wore,  Worn,  were 
Worht,  SS.  2694,  see  Worth 
Worm,  A.  37,  serpent 
Worst,  SS.  1458,  wast 
Worth,  A.  315,  402, 1.  1443,  shall  be,  Sax.  sometimes  it  ig 

used  for  was.    In  like  manner,  ert  is  employed  in  old  French 

both  for  erit  and  erat .    Worth  ther  non,  A.  1676,  there  shall 

be  none.    To  worth,  A.  6707,  up  to  their  value 
Worthly,  worthy 
Wot,  knows,  Sax.     God  wot  ther  wold  non  hot  I,  Am.  117, 

God  knows  none  would  (watch  the  corpse)  but  I 
Wouche  saffe,  I.  1381, 1389,  vouchsafe 
Wough,  Wouhgh,  Wowgh,  Wowhe,  A.  3074,  harm,  wrong, 

villainy,  Sax. 
Wowe,  A.  7517,  woe 
Wowes,  R.  1081,  walles 

Wrake,  A.  6581,  R.  1562,  2254,  revenge,  wrong,  Sax. 
Wrapped,  rapped,  smote 
Wrawe,  SS.  1742,  peevish,  angry,  Sax. 
Wrawled,  I.  1835,  brawled 
Wreche,  vengeance,  Sax.    Wreche,  wretched 
Wreighe,  A  A.  2333,  covered.    Wren,  Wreo,  cover,  defend, 

Sax. 
Wreiing,  disclosing,  discovering 
Wreke,  revenged 
Wrenche,  R.  4050,  SS.  438,  stratagem,  wickedness,  cunning, 

Sax. 
Wrengand,  ringing 

Wrethed,  SS.  3461,  enraged.    Wreththe,  incense,  enrage 
Wrethen  writhen,  A.  5723,  much  twisted  together 
Wrieth,  A.  1992,  destroy eth,  Sax. 
Wright,  A  A.  1129,  for  No  wright,  read  Now  right 
Writes,  A.  1338,  writs,  letters 
Wroke,  revenged,  Sax. 

Wrong,  A.  333y  rung,  wrought ;  A.  6447,  awry,  twisted 
Wroth,  A.  4528,  rueful,  pityful ;  A.  544,  astonished,  afraid 
Wrothlich,  wrathfully 

5 


GLOSSARY.  457 

Wrye,  discover,  betray ;  Wrye,  A.  2786,  Wryen,  cover,  de- 
fend, Sax. 

Wryeng,  A.  3514$  wraying,  treachery,  Sax. 

Wunue,  R.  ll296,  won,  conquered 

Wurthe,  K.  488,  shall,  be,  Sax. 

Wyde  and  syde,  A.  6016,  6593,  wide  and  far;  Syde  is  long, 
Sax. 

Wyght,  brave,  strong,  powerful,  Sax.  Wyghtyore,  A.  2396, 
biaver 

Wyght,  Wyghthede,  strength.  And  toke  that  he  hadde  wyght 
among  heom  alle  threo  hundred  knyghtes,  A.  2725,  and  sup- 
posed he  had  the  strength  of  three  hundred  knights  among  them 

Wyke,  A.  4608,  dwelling,  station,  Sax.  O. 1030,  weak,  slender 

Wykys,  O.  1497,  weeks 

Wy!e,  Am.  245,  well 

Wyndas,  R.  71,  windlas 

Wynne,  R.  3286,  gain,  winning.  In  wynne,  R.  2601,  gain 
the  harbour 

Wypte,  wept 

Wysse,  show,  Sax. 

Wyste,  knew,  Sax. 

Wyt,  Wyte,  R.  1672,  777,  blame 

Wytherhyngs,  R.  1423,  see  Wetherwynes. 

Wytterly,  R.  66,  utterly 

Ya,  A.  3571,  yea,  yes 

Yar,  gave.    Als  he  yaf  nothing  therof,  A.  6933,  as  if  he  gave 

no  attention  to  it 
Yald,  yield 

Yare,  R.  1185,  ready,  readily,  quickly,  Sax.  ' 
Yarke,  prepare,  Sax. 
Yarwe,  R.  6751,  alert,  nimble,  in  which  sense  Yare  is  still  used 

in  the  north 
Yate,  Yatte,  gate 
Y-blent,  blinded 
Y-bore,  born 
Y-cleped,  called 

Y-coled,  A.  2686,  armed,  colla,  Sax.  a  helmet 
Y-corn,  chosen,  Sax. 
Ydle,  A.  4840,  isle 

Y-do,  done  ;  A.  147,  put  to  the  sword 
Y-doughth,  A.  5906,  grown  strong,  recovered 
Ye,  eye.     Ye,  Yee,  yea,  yes 
Ycde,  went,  came,  Sax. 
Y-eornd,  A.  4357,  run,  Sax. 
Yef,  if 


458  GLOSSARY. 

Yeld,  A.  2959,  see  Yilde 

Yeldith,  A.  7199,  take  buck  from 

Yelp,  cry,  prate,  boast,  Sax.    Yelping,  boasting 

Yeme,  R.  3451, 1. 27,  take  care  of;  A,  7415,  attend.  Yemyng, 
A.  4916,  care,  keeping,  custody,  governing,  Sax. 

Yengthe,  youth 

Yenith,  A.  485.  By  the  story  in  the  original,  this  word  must 
mean  "  lays  an  egg."  To  yean,  is,  in  the  modern  English, 
to  bring  forth  young,  but  is  only  applied  to  quadrupeds 

Yeoden,  went,  Sax. 

Yepe,  A.  1193,  put? 

Yerde,  SS.  142,  sceptre 

Yerne,  R.  557,  2271,  briskly,  eagerly,  Sax.  O.  965,  hasten 

Yerthe,  earth 

Yeve,  given 

Y-fast,  A.  2419,  fastened 

Y-feet,  O.  237,  fetched 

Y-feled,  felt 

Y-fere,  together,  Sax. 

Y-flawe,  flayed 

Y-flewe,  fled 

Y-foiled,  A.  2712,  crushed,  stamped,  fouloir,  fouler,  O.  Fr. 

Y-fonge,  received,  Sax. 

Y-glywed,  A.  6180,  glued 

Yghe,  eye 

Y-grope,  A.  6627,  found  out,  searched,  Sax. 

Y-gnlt,  gilt,  golden 

Y-gurd,  girt 

Y-hatered,  A.  5920,  victualled.    See  Hater 

Y-hote,  named,  commanded,  Sax. 

Y-hud,  A.  2403,  hid,  concealed 

Yif,  if 

Yilde,  A.  2955,  tribute,  Sax. 

Y-knawe,  A.  7051,  have  carnal  knowledge  of 

Y-kud,  A.  3359,  shewed,  known,  Sax. 

Y-kyt,  cut 

Y-lat,  A.  1776,  hindered 

Y-laye,  laid 

Yle  of  water,  A.  6172,  lake 

Yliche,  Ylike,  like,  alike 

Ylke,  same 

Y-loui,  beloved 

Ymagoure,  A.  7688,  imagery 

Y-ineynt,  A.  6795,  mixed,  mingled 

Armpe,  progeny,  child,  sucker  of  a  tjree 

Vn,  inn,  dwelling 


GLOSSAUY.  459 

Y  nempned,  named 

Y-note,  A.  59,  noted,  called 

Ynowh,  enough 

Yolden,  yielded,  requited 

Yole,  Am.  140,  Christmas 

Yongelyng,  Yonling,  youth,  Sax, 

Yonke,  young 

Yore,  R.  343,  ready,  prepared,  Sax, 

Yores,  Am.  years 

Yorne,  O.  561,  hastened;  H.  126,  long 

Yoten,  R.  371,  AA.  2024,  cast 

Youen,  gave.    Youet,  A.  5932,  gives,  Sap. 

Y-passed,  A.  5460,  passed  over 

Y-plight,  I  pledge,  I  promise;  generally  an  expletive 

Y-pyght,  A.  6705,  pitched,  stuck  in,  fastened 

Yre,  R.  6217,  Yrne,  iron 

Y-schad,  A.  2772,  shed,  dashed  out 

Y-schape,  A.  6980,  destined,  Sax. 

Y-schuldred,  A.  4968,  shouldered.  Honden,  in  the  preceding 
line,  means  the  whole  arm 

Yse,  A.  5749,  iron,  Sax. 

Y-shote,  A.  5953,  shut,  stuck 

Y-shred,  A.  "6819,  shrouded  dressed 

Y-siwed,  sued,  followed,  Fr. 

Y-stabled,  established 

Y-steke,  0. 185,  shut  up 

Y-steot,  A.  2768,  fastened,  Teul. 

Y-swawe,  A.  2379,  swooning,  dead 

Y-swerred,  A.  6264,  necked,  Sax. 

Y-swounge,  O.  2,  swinged,  scourged 

Y-swowe,  A.  2262,  swooning 

Y-syth,  sees 

Y-thewed,  A.  3209,  limbed,  Sax. 

Y-tielde,  Y-tolde,  A.  5901,  tielded,  pitched,  teld,  Sax.  a  tent 

Y-tolde,  counted,  Sax. 

Yut,  yet 

Y-war,  aware 

Y-whet.  None  bettre  bores  y-whet,  no  bear's  teeth  are  bet- 
ter whetted,  i.  e.  sharper 

Y-wis,  I  know,  most  frequently  used  as  a  mere  expletive, 
sometimes  signifying  certainly,  Sax. 

Y-woxe,  O.  670,  grown,  Sax. 

Y-wrye,  coveted,  Sax. 


VARIOUS  READINGS. 


Various  Readings  and  Mistakes  in  the  MSS. 
corrected  in  the  Text. 

SEVEN  WISE  MASTERS. 

V.  134,  Here  the  copy  in  the  Auchinleck  MS.  begins. — 
This  line  stands  thus  in  it :  "  For  the  niede  of  my  service." 
On  account  of  the  rhyme,  it  was  necessary  to  adopt  the  read- 
ing of  the  Cotton  MS. — 234,  There  is  an  erasure  in  this  line. 
The  word  in  brackets  has  been  inserted. — 437,  Here,  and  in 
many  other  parts  of  the  romance,  the  MS.  reads  Ze  for  Sche. 
—484,  Ihauisscht.— 488,  Dhadde.— 933,  The  bor.— 1238,  Zhe 
nome. — 1320,  Loruedes. — 1563,  "  He  louede"  is  repeated  in 
the  MS.-— 1589,  The  bi.— 1891,  On  the  brayn.— 1913,  Red 
me  red  me  red.— 2285,  After  «*  hir"  there  is  an  erasure  in  the 
MS.— 2440,  Soth  king.— 2550,  Sche  les  hir  lif.— 2578  and 
2580,  Sche.— 2583  and  2605,  Him.— 2645,  That  that.— 2780, 
Here  the  Auchinleck  MS.  breaks  off:  the  remainder  is  from 
the  Cotton  MS. 

OCTOUIAN  IMPERATOR. 

V.  73,  Foruty.— 82,  Frensch  thoght.— 87,  Kenne.— 245, 
Drye.— 251,  Brent.— 277,  Then.— 393,  Thes  com.— 422,  Yf. 
—509,  Sche  solde.— 517,  Clodyth.— 567,  He.— 658,  Stowlyche. 
— 1088,  The. — 1152,  Theygh  her  wer.— 1291,  Graunt  mercy 

Y.— 1426,  He.— 1435,  Stappe.— 1608,  The 1646,  Scle.— 

1822,  Form. 

SIR  AMADAS. 

V.  586,  Of  gentyll  kyn.— 678,  Wlyt. 

FINIS. 


G.  Ramsay  &  Co.  printers, 
Edinburgh,  1810. 


CORRECTIONS. 


VOLUME  J. 

Page. 

Verse. 

Error. 

Correction. 

6, 

45, 

At, 

Ac. 

9, 

107, 

fone, 

fone. 

10, 

137, 

t 

9 

12, 

170, 

• 

» 

16, 

270, 

heyghmaister, 

heygh  maister. 

62, 

1386, 

to, 

tok. 

93, 

2170, 

kerunyg, 

keruyng. 

114, 

2692, 

the, 

the. 

156, 

3755, 

the, 

the. 

175, 

4283, 

to-day, 

to  day. 

218, 

5272, 

Ynde, 

ynde. 

232, 

5599, 

penge, 

henge. 

236, 

5717, 

hest, 

best. 

256, 

6193, 

hy, 

by. 

256, 

6212, 

. 

> 

261, 

6334, 

? 

> 

262, 

6335, 

. 

s 

267, 

6497, 

s, 

As. 

272, 

6515, 

tllfi, 

they. 

295, 

7218, 

messan  eris, 
VOLUME  II. 

messangeris. 

23, 

520, 

aqued, 

a  qued. 

153, 

3821, 

arm  arwe, 

ar  narwe. 

251, 

6409, 

gore,  ^ 

gare. 

416, 

1129, 

no  wright. 
VOLUME  III. 

now  right. 

43, 

1205, 

inche, 

nithe. 

248, 
249, 

120,  > 
140,$ 

lyle, 

lyk. 

353} 

line    21, 

Cotton, 

Cains'  College, 

PR  2064  .1147  1810  v.  3  IMS 
Metrical  romances  of  the 
thirteenth,  fourteenth,  and 
47087011 


OF    MFlatAEVAL  Jffefc